STEEL ENGRAVING – “SUNSET – ST. HELIER’S” from the painting by Alfred Clint, engraved by J. Saddler, printed in 1884.  This engraving is in very good condition.  The engraving measures 6 5/8” x 9 7/8”, and is matted to 12” x 16” for easy framing.

Coast scenes, under the effect of sunset or sunrise, form the staple of Mr. Alfred Clint’s landscapes, those with which he for some years upheld the interest of the annual exhibition of the Society of British Artists in London.  There is much in the scenery of the Channel Islands to attract to them both artists and other visitors.  St. Helier’s, the chief town of Jersey, makes a charming subject for the painter: it was then connected by two lines of railway with other parts of the island, but these were not in existence at the date to which this picture was painted.  The coast scenery of Jersey has one or two striking incidents, such as the Corbieres and Mount Orgueil, while the intervals are filled up with sand hills and similar uninteresting objects, if we except some two or three pretty little bays.  St. Helier’s lies within the compass of a broad valley, towards the easternmost point of the bay of St. Aubin, and has much the appearance of a continental town, owing to the elevated ramparts of Fort Regent, a place of great extent and strength.  The hills surrounding the town are covered with terraces, villas, and gardens, and the approach from the sea is singularly attractive.  The entrance to the harbor is defended on one side by Fort regent, and on the other by Elizabeth Castle, an ancient fortress built upon a body of rocks a mile from the shore, but accessible at low water.  Mr. Clint selected a capital point of view for his sketch; the picturesque features of the place are seen to the greatest advantage, and they are displayed with true poetic feeling.  Resting, as it were, under the guardianship of the massive fortress, the town lies buried in deep shadow, save where the last beams of the setting sun light up the angles of the rocks, and the sides of buildings facing the west.  The foreground of the picture, broken by patches of sand and shingle, is yet brilliant with sparkles of light; and the sea, receding from the bay, is perfectly calm.  The shallowness of the water is apparent from the figure of the boatman bearing on his broad back a man to the other boat at anchor.  The two women on the point of land render most effective aid to the composition, by giving distance to the mass of objects beyond them as well as life to the whole.

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.