STEEL ENGRAVING – “THE ELF” from the painting by H. Le Jeune, engraved by J. Stancliffe and L. Stocks, printed in 1883.  This engraving is in very good condition.  The engraving measures 9 1/8” x 7 3/8”, and is matted to 12” x 16” for easy framing.

Mr. Le Jeune has always succeeded in his representations of children, whether in his Scriptural or Shakespearian subjects, or, as here, in a composition specially found for them; here he stands without an equal among 19^th century British artists for truth, beauty, and, in particular, natural expression.  For his extreme naturalness we need scarcely contend, for no person who has seen the original of this picture will be likely to wish to throw doubt on the statement.  How happily is the design conceived! And how admirably effectuated!  Near every pond in country places will be seen at times young fishermen taking their first lessons in the art from themselves by trying to take the elfs, or “effets” as they call them, by means of a morsel of paste and a bent pin; the little reptiles fall an easy prey, it is often not necessary even to “hook” them, but they may be drawn out of the water merely by the tenacity of their grasp on the bait.  The children often keep the little creatures a considerable time, and they will breed in captivity, the young being easy to rear.  Mr. J. G. Wood sys; - “By the rustics this most harmless creature is dreaded as much as the salamander is in France, and the tales related of its venom and spite are almost equal to those already mentioned.  During a residence of some years in a small village in Wiltshire, I was told some very odd stories about this newt, and my own power of handling these terrible creatures without injury was evidently thought rather supernatural.”

The rod and line held by the exhibitor of the amphibious creature indicate that the lad has been fishing, and that he has succeeded in obtaining “sport” of a kind, which excites wonderment, as well as some amount of timidity, in the group before him.  The expression of delight and curiosity of the youngest child’s face is especially inimitable.  The manner in which the whole of the figures are arranged on the canvas shows a hand skilled in the art of producing picturesque effect.

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.