STEEL ENGRAVING – “THE EMPTY SADDLE” from the painting by S. E. Walker, engraved by G. C. Finden, published in 1886.  This engraving is in excellent condition.  The picture measures 9 1/2”x 7”, and is matted to 11” x 14” for easy framing.

           A horseman, in winter, has approached a noble villa and entered the court-yard, leading after him a horse, whose saddle is empty; and, from a balcony above the principal entrance, his coming has been observed by the young chatelaine, who faints in the arms of her mother at the reception of the distressful news.  Her maid-servant sin the doorway of the balcony, express their painful surprise but her little son with the carelessness of his age snaps his toy whip at the horseman who had bowed his head in sorrow.  The reader is at liberty to fill in, as he will the outlines of the sad story; the artist has told enough to give him the cue.    Whether this empty saddle was occupied by a man who has just fallen in a duel or in a battle, or in a hunt, or along the slippery highway, his fate, all the same, has brought disaster to his house.  Mr. S. E. Walter, the painter, has produced many works of interest sufficient to demand the engraver’s art.  No reader can fail to recognize the pathos of the present story, and how the impression has been enhanced by the beauty of the architecture, by the effect of the snow on the vines and foliage, and by the attitude of the horseman.  Such a house has sheltered a man to whom life meant much, and enough has been depicted of external fact to awaken the sympathy and to excite the imagination.  The painter shows the fine quality of knowing when to stop.  He is charming draughtsman and a true artist.

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.