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STEEL ENGRAVING – “THE MARCH OF MILES STANDISH” from the original painting by G.H. Boughton, engraved by G.C. Finden, published in 1878. This engraving is in very good condition. The engraving measures 5 3/8” x 10 7/8”, and is mated to 11” x 14” for easy framing.
Plymouth, the land of the pilgrims, as it was in the Old Colony days, is very forcibly brought before us in this exceedingly original and meritorious composition. Stout Miles Standish, the Puritan Captain, with his army is on the march to quell the rebellious Indians.
“Just in the gray of the dawn, as the mists uprose from the meadows,
There was a stir and sound in the slumbering village of Plymouth;
Clanging and clicking of arms, and the order imperative, ‘Forward!’
Given in tones suppressed, a tramp of feet, and then silence.
Figures ten, in the mist, marched slowly out of the village,-
Standish, the stalwart, it was, with eight of his valorous army,
Led by their Indian guide, Hobomek, friend of the white men,
Northward marching to quell the sudden revolt of the savage.”
The figure of the Captain is seen of the left of the leading file of his little company. From their equipment it appears that the leading and rear files have before seen military service, while the less experienced civilians are placed in the centre; but there is a look of stern resolution in the faces of the whole party, which shows that their courage is not likely to fail in the time of need. These were the men, exiled from religion and disciplined by misfortune, whose brothers in England afterwards became the Ironsides of Cromwell, and whose descendants were first to strike the blow for American liberty. Such we see them in the picture, grave, earnest men, desiring peace, but ready to take up weapons when the occasion required. Their Captain fills exactly the description given of him by Longfellow:
Clad in doublet and hose, and boots of Cordovan leather;
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Short of stature he was, but strongly built and athletic;
Broad in the shoulders, deep chested, with muscles and sinews of iron;
Brown as a nut was his face, but his russet beard was already
Flaked with patches of snow, as hedges sometimes in November.”
In front of the party, treading with cautious footsteps, walks the Indian guide, while behind them stretches the Atlantic over the Mayflower is now on her way back to England. The utmost care is manifested in every part of the composition. The figures are exquisitely drawn, and each possesses a powerfully marked individuality. The conception is fine, and the picture altogether bears the stamp of artistic genius of a very high order. It was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1869. Mr. Boughton is an American artist, but he has his home in England, where his greatest triumphs have been achieved. He was young man, in the 1860’s, but his pictures were already well known, and he was rapidly acquiring fame as one of the most promising artists of the age.
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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