STEEL ENGRAVING – “THE REST AT EVE” from the painting by J. Tennant, engraved by C. Cousen, printed in 1883.  This engraving is in very good condition.  The engraving measures 6 1/4” x 10”, and is matted to 12” x 16” for easy framing.

Landscapes are plentiful enough in England picture galleries, and to be able to say of an artist, as we can of Mr. Tennant, that his works are much in request, is to assign them the superiority over a very large number of rival compositions.

The picture of “Rest at Eve” was purchased by the prince Consort in 1852, for the collection at Osborne, and was the second work by Mr. Tennant, which was so honored by his Royal Highness.  The scene was sketched on the banks of Dagenham Gulf, in Essex, looking over the Thames to the Kentish side of the river between Woolwich and Erith; - the Thames is seen in the distance, and beyond it is the high ground of Plumstead Common and Lesnes Heath, - one of the most picturesque localities within twenty miles of London, presenting a combination of richly-wooded upland, verdant pastures, and extensive corn fields, with the noble Thames winding through the low country, almost as far as the eye can reach.  The Kentish side of the river offers a most striking contrast to the opposite banks.

It is scarcely giving to the picture too high a compliment to say it is worthy of Cuyp; the subject is, perhaps, as simple as an artist could select – a quality never to be condemned or slighted when allied with such excellences as are here to be seen; it shows rich, luminous coloring, effective arrangement of the materials, and most careful execution.      

IMPORTANT TO NOTE

Antique prints, 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.