STEEL ENGRAVING – “THE VISIT TO MELANCTHON” from the painting by A. Johnston, engraved by C. W. Sharpe, printed in 1883.  This engraving is in very good condition.  The engraving measures 6 7/8” x 9 7/8”, and is matted to 12” x 16” for easy framing.

Philip Schartzerde, now known only by the name of Melancthon, formed a striking contrast to his brother reformer, Luther; the one calm, moderate, and gentle, the other fiery, bold, and impetuous.  Our picture illustrates the visit to Melancthon of a French traveler as it is described in D’Aubigne’s History of the Reformation.  Melancthon married, in 1520, the daughter of a burgomaster of Wittenberg, about two years after he had been appointed by the Elector, Frederic of Saxony, professor of Greek in the newly established university of that city.  This lady, the artist has assumed, and probably with good grounds, to have acted as amanuensis to her husband.  She has evidently been interrupted in hr occupation by the entrance of the stranger – an ecclesiastic, as his costume denotes – and her attention is absorbed by the remarks with which Melancthon addresses their visitor.  The composition is of the most inartificial character; the room is but scantily furnished; there is nothing in it to convey the idea of its being the abode of a man whose learning, piety, and independent spirit were then aiding to work out a mighty revolution throughout Europe, and preparing the way to emancipate whole nations from the iron bondage of priestly domination.  The figures are agreeably and naturally disposed, and the coloring of the picture is rich, very luminous and transparent, with a most effective arrangement of light and shade.

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.