STEEL ENGRAVING – “AFTER THE BATTLE” from the painting by P. H. Calderon, engraved by F.A. Heath, printed in 1885.  This engraving is in very good condition.  The engraving measures 7 5/8” x 9 3/8”, and is matted to 12” x 16” for easy framing.

      The originality of the subject, no less than the touching incident portrayed, attracted to this picture, when exhibited at the British Royal Academy in 1862, almost as much interest as any work then hung in the various rooms.  Visitors stood before it admiringly, though to many the point of the composition, or rather its meaning, was not at first evident.  Few, if any, who merely read the title given by Mr. Calderon to his work, could, without seeing the latter, from an idea approaching to truth of the subject; and many, even upon examination and with the assistance afforded by the printed catalogue, were unable at first sight to comprehend the artist’s meaning: yet the story requires but little explanation.  Taking for his text a quotation from Shakespeare –

                        “Men ne’er spend their fury on a child”--

he shows us a small detachment of British soldiers, whose uniform proves to be of the time of George II., or of the early years of his successor, entering a cottage “after the battle.”  Whatever their purpose, one solitary object arrests their attention – a little bare legged, who, it may be presumed, was inadvertently left behind when the other occupants fled in their haste from the destruction which seemed to await them.  The foremost man of the party stoops down with his hands resting on his knees, and inquisitively looks at the little derelict as if he were some lusus naturae, and not, as he is, a human waif cast on the battle-field.  The child sits on the overturned cradle in which he may have hidden himself during the fight, emerging from it when the roar of the cannon and the rattling of musketry had subsided; and he now waits the future in all unconsciousness of mind, for he is too young to comprehend his desolate condition, and it is doubtful whether he could understand his interrogator, even if the kindly-looking veteran of the British Guards put a question to him, because the sabot on the ground shows that the scene lies either in France or Flanders.

   Apart from its originality, this picture has many other merits.  The subject is most touching; it is an appeal from the field of battle to the court of humanity: every sympathy of one’s nature is enlisted on the side of him who has mounted his wicker throne only to look upon the havoc which surrounds him.  The composition throughout is picturesque and very effective, they eye being gradually led from the principal object on the right to the group on the left, among which is a small drummer-boy in the peculiar uniform of the period; the expression of the young soldier’s face is highly pleasing in its gaze of wonderment at the sight before him.  Whatever the future fate of the forsaken child may be it need not be feared he will have anything but kindness from the brave fellows into which hands he has fallen.

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.

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