STEEL ENGRAVING – “RELIGION CONSOLING JUSTICE” from the original sculpture by J. Edwards, engraved by R.A. Artlett, published in 1878.  This engraving is in very good condition.  The engraving measures 9 ¼” x 7”, and is matted to 11” x 14” for easy framing.

    This very beautiful example of monumental sculpture is erected in memory of the late Right Hon. Sir J. B. Bosanquet, one of the Judges of the English Court of Common Pleas, in the Church of Dingestow, Monmouthshire.

  The meaning and sentiment of the composition are best described in the artist’s own words.  He says: --

      “My first and chief object, was to aim – so far as I could by sculptural treatment – at representing “Religion and Justice” as the twin daughters, so, to speak, of Wisdom, and a High Feeling; these latter being, of course, ultimately traceable to the Eternal.  This view of the subject was necessary to accord, so far as practicable by me, with the profound and refined mental characteristics of the distinguished Judge to be commemorated, in whom Religion and Justice, in their highest form, shone as salient qualities of the mind.  My next object was to take care in order to continue in keeping with the mental characteristics just named, that the twin sisters in the group should be free from all affection and display and that “Religion” should have nothing prominently apparent, but humble and earnest trust in God.  In the figure of ‘Justice’ – from her being, in my view of the subject, less imbued, perhaps, by faith than her sister, it was necessary to have a deep but subdued grief indicated, such as great natures can alone feel at the heavy amount of human woe directly and indirectly connected with the stern necessity that Equity should ever drive Iniquity away, even by the unbending terrors of the law, where holy love, religion, and morality fail; this deep grief of ‘Justice’ being subdued by the consoling influence of her sacred sister, ‘Religion,’ who in the moment chosen for illustration in the design, looks up in earnest trust to God.”

IMPORTANT TO NOTE

Antique prints, etchings, engravings, and lithographs are printing processes, which use steel, copper, stone or wood blocks or plates to produce a picture on paper.

Most antique prints and engravings, which are seen on the internet today, are bookplates.  Because they are pages from a book, there are multiple copies in existence.  This does not, however, mean that they are "reproductions" that have been printed recently.  Because they were, at some point, part of books, some have been preserved in excellent condition, while others show signs of age, as yellow spots or darkness on the edge of the page from being handled.

Engravings, and lithographs are high quality pieces of art, as it took a highly trained artist many hours of work to produce one.  Although there may be multiple copies still in existence, the date of the item should be stated, thus giving the buyer an idea of its age.

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