STEEL ENGRAVING – “BETWEEN SCHOOL-HOURS” from the painting by C.E. Perugini, engraved by W. Greatbach, published in 1886.  This engraving is in excellent condition.  The picture measures 11”x 6”, and is matted to 12” x 16” for easy framing.

       The interest of this picture is twofold - first, intrinsic; and, second, extrinsic.  The subject is that of four children walking on stilts, in a summer landscape, accompanied by a large Newfoundland dog, who barks his welcome at the progress of their march.  The painter is a son-in-law of Charles Dickens, and the influence of Dickens’s novels appears in his pictures.   His wife, the younger daughter of the distinguished writer, is also a painter, working in her husband’s studio, and sending thence pleasing examples of her skill to the Royal Academy.  Mr. Perugini has long been a resident of England, although a native of Italy.  He was represented at the Centennial Exhibition by a portrait of his wife, and the two artists have done much work in collaboration, the daughter having inherited some of the humor of her illustrious father.  Mr. Perugini is a careful draughtsman, a graceful composer, and user of warm, rich color.  This picture was painted in 1873.  Other subjects of his are “A Labor of Love,” “Choosing a Nosegay,” “Roses and Butterflies,” and “Gardening.”  His wife’s best-known work is entitled “ Music hath Charms,” and was exhibited in 1877 in the Dudley Gallery at London.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE

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.