Charles Dickens helped to call public attention to the merits of this talented young artist, Marcus Stone, when he selected him to design the illustrations for “Our Mutual Friend.”  The favor was not misplaced, and the publicity given to his name has doubtless been of much service.  In the picture “The Duel Interrupted” for example, the subject is highly dramatic, and is conceived with a good deal of spirit.  The figures are habited in English costumes of about the middle of the sixteenth century.  The young lady and her attendant seem to have come upon the ground just in time to delay, if not to prevent, the encounter.  The lady is imploring the younger of the two combatants, who is possibly her brother, not to continue the quarrel; while the old woman, her attendant, seems to be pleading to the other to forget the hasty words the youth may have uttered.  The contrast between the two principles is very strongly marked.  The one is an impetuous youth, whose hot blood has been fired by some real or imaginary insult, and who would rush blindly into the fray, probably to fall by the cunning hand of his cooler adversary.  The older man stands confident in his superior skill, and in his ability to punish the presumption of his antagonist, whose angry words and violent actions have never for a moment been suffered to ruffle his equanimity.  Their weapons, too, are unequal, the pliant rapier of the one being far more formidable than the heavy sword of the other.  The doctor is indignant at the interruption, which threatens to deprive him of at least one patient; and the second who is trying to induce the old woman to retire, also appears to be of the same opinion, although from a different motive.  The other second stands with amusing nonchalance awaiting the result of the lady’s intercession, indifferent alike to the cause of the quarrel and its possible consequences.  The figures are all very expressive of the different emotions, which are uppermost at the moment, and both in face and attitude plainly indicate the meaning of the artist.  The costumes and other accessories show care and accuracy, and in all respects the work is an interesting and satisfactory performance.  The painting was exhibited at the British Royal Academy in 1868.

This item is a steel engraving from the painting by Marcus Stone called “THE DUEL INTERRUPTED”.  It was engraved by H. Bourne, and published in 1878.  The engraving is in very good condition.  The engraving measures 6 1/8” x 10 1/8”, and is matted to 11” x 14” for easy framing.

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.