STEEL ENGRAVING – “SCIENCE TRIMMING THE LAMP OF LIFE” from the medal (The Brodie Testimonial) by William Wyon, engraved by Freebairn, published in 1878.  This engraving is in very good condition.  This circular engraving measures 8 ½” in diameter, and is matted to 11” x 14” for easy framing.

    Wyon is justly held to be the most famous of English medalists, and enjoyed the honor of being elected a member of the British Royal Academy, – the first artist of that kind who was thus distinguished.  His cousin, Thomas Wyon, was also celebrated in the same department of art, but his productions were of inferior merit to those of his more gifted relative.  The medal “Science Trimming the Lamp of Life”, which is a favorable specimen of anaglyphic work, is an enlargement from what is known as the “Brodie Testimonial,” a medal struck in honor of the eminent surgeon, Sir Benjamin Brodie.  The design shows great purity of taste, and the spirit in which it is conceived is in harmony with the purpose for which the medal was engraved.  The female figure, emblematic of Science, is very beautiful in its outlines, and the disposition of the limbs is at once free and graceful.

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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