STEEL ENGRAVING – “NIGHT’S SWIFT DRAGONS” from the original baso-relief sculpture by John Graham Lough, engraved by W. Roffe, published in 1878.  This circular engraving is in very good condition.  The engraving measures 7 ¼” x 7 ¼”, and is matted to 11” x 14” for easy framing.

    The suggestion for this sculpture was founded in Shakespeare’s  “Midsummer Night’s Dream”, where the fairy prince, Oberon, commands Puck to go forth and plague the rivals, Lysander and Demetrius and Puck in his reply, says: --

                                    “My fairy lord, this must be done with haste,

                                    For night’s swift dragons cut the clouds full fast,

                                    And yonder shines Aurora’s harbinger.”

   Among the attributes of the Cynthia of the Greeks, was that of being guardian of the young, and from the presence of the children, it might be conjectured that the female figure was for the queen of night.  The general appearance of the figure, however, does not strengthen the supposition, and it may therefore be regarded simply as emblematic of sleep.  The conception as a whole is brilliant.  The design is graceful, and the effect of swift motion is cleverly produced by means of the light floating drapery and streaming hair of the female figure.

   John Graham Lough was born at Greenhead, Northumberland, one of the northernmost shires of England, in the earlier part of the 19th century.  He first exhibited at the British Royal Academy in 1826.  Two of his most famous works were Milo and Samson, both figures of heroic size, and both highly praised as works art.  Two portrait statues by him have also received high praise, – that of “Queen Victoria” in the Royal Exchange, London; and a colossal statue of “Lord Hastings”, erected in the Island of Malta.  Mr. Lough has produced a large number of statues, groups in bronze, and bas-reliefs, illustrating the characters and events in Shakespeare’s works. 

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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