Thomas Nast

Ciivil War "Christmas Eve" 1862, Thomas Nast Harper's Weekly Woodcut Engraving

1863

This is an early 19th century engraved portrait of the industrialist and philanthropist Richard Reynolds by William Sharp after William Hobday. It was published in London by Rudolph Ackerman in 1817. The print is entitled "Richard Reynolds of the Society of Friends, Late of Bristol". This three-quarter length portrait of Reynolds depicts him seated, directed to right, looking towards the viewer. He is holding an open book, wearing a plain suit. A curtain in the background is pulled to the left, revealing bookshelves. Some of the books are labelled 'Addison & Watts' 'Kempis & Fenelon' 'Milton & Cowley' etc. The inscription above the portrait reads: "When the eye saw him it blessed him". The lettering below the image reads: "Richard Reynolds of the Society of Friends, Late of Bristol; Whose Life and Fortune were devoted to the Glory of God by relieving the humble in Distress.', This plate is dedicated by Permission to his Royal Highness, the Prince Regent by his most devoted very humble servant William Hobday." This engraving is printed on thick paper. The sheet measures 16" high and 12" wide. It is adhered to an archival backing in the upper left corner. There is mild discoloration and toning in the margins, but it does not involve the image. Richard Reynolds (1735-1816) was a prominent member of the Society of Friends, also known as Quakers, in the 18th and 19th centuries. He was born into a wealthy family in Bristol, England, and inherited a successful copper smelting, iron manufacturing business from his father. Despite his privileged upbringing, Reynolds was known for his deep concern for the poor and his commitment to social justice. He used his wealth and influence to support a range of philanthropic causes, including the abolition of slavery, the improvement of working conditions for miners and factory workers, and the provision of education for the poor. Reynolds was also a prominent supporter of the Quaker...

"The Inside of a House in Nootka Sound" is an engraving created by William Sharp (1749-1824), from a drawing by John Webber (1752-1793), who was the artist on Captain James Cook's 3rd and final voyage of discovery. It is Plate 65 in "A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean Undertaken by the Command of His Majesty, for Making Discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere", the official British Admirality sanctioned journal published upon completion of the voyage in London in 1784 by Strahan & Cadell. This engraving is presented in a Koa wood frame and a white mat. There are occasional tiny faint spots, but the print is otherwise in very good condition. Koa wood is legendary in Hawaii. Not only is this amazing wood native to Hawaii, but it is known for the deep rich colors and varied grain pattern. Koa has an honored heritage in Hawaii and is highly revered and sacred. The word “koa” means “warrior” in Hawaiian. The warriors of King Kamehameha the Great, created canoes and weapons from a wood plentiful on the Big Island of Hawaii. This wood became synonymous with the warriors themselves, and it became known as koa. There are three other engravings listed form the official journal of Captain Cook's 3rd voyage available that are presented in identical Koa wood frames and mats. They would make a wonderful grouping for a display of 2, 3 or 4 prints. Please see listings: LU117324682432, LU117324684022, LU117324684062. A discount is available for a grouping depending on the number of items included. Nootka Sound is on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. It was explored by Captain Cook in 1778 after he discovered Hawaii during his 3rd voyage. He originally named it King George's Sound, but did record Nootka Sound, which he thought was its native name. Hawaii was originally called The Sandwich Islands in honor of The Earl of...

A grouping of three engravings depicting classical Italian architectural features held in the National Museum of Naples, entitled "Bronze Hydria", "Marbre Naissance de Bacchus" and "...

"Poulaho, King of the Friendly Islands, Drinking Kava" is an engraving created by William Sharp (1749-1824), from a drawing by John Webber (1752-1793), who was the artist on Captain James Cook's 3rd and final voyage of discovery. It was published in the atlas of "A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean Undertaken by the Command of His Majesty, for Making Discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere", the official British Admirality sanctioned journal published upon completion of the voyage in London in 1784 by Strahan & Cadell. Captain Cook visited Tonga on his 3rd voyage, which he named The Friendly Islands because of the warm welcome he and his crew received, unlike some of the other more hostile Pacific islands. The engraving depicts Cook and his men observed a kava ceremony at the village of Mu’a on Tongatapu. King Paulaho sits in the centre foreground, his back to the spectator with a man kneeling before him. The ceremonial mat depicted behind Paulaho indicates that nobody was allowed to sit behind him. The figure in the centre holds a single cup, referring to the Tongan custom of offering the cup to the king first. Kava is native to the islands of the South Pacific and was first described for English readers in 1768 by Captain James Cook. The kava root has been used for centuries as a central feature of ceremonies and celebrations because it was able to bring about a calming and pleasant social atmosphere. The root was crushed and processed into coconut milk to become the focal ceremonial beverage, simply referred to as kava. This engraving is presented in a Koa wood frame and a white mat. Koa wood is legendary in Hawaii. There are occasional faint spots, but the print is otherwise in very good condition. This amazing Koa wood is native to Hawaii and it is known for the deep rich colors and varied grain pattern. Koa has an honored heritage in Hawaii and is highly revered and sacred. The word “koa” means “warrior” in Hawaiian. The warriors of King Kamehameha the Great, created canoes and weapons from a wood plentiful on the Big Island of Hawaii. This wood became synonymous with the warriors themselves, and it became known as koa. There are three other engravings listed from the official journal of Captain Cook's 3rd voyage available that are presented in identical Koa wood frames and mats (LU117324682422, LU117324684052, LU117324684032). They would make a wonderful grouping for a display of 2, 3 or 4 prints. A discount is available for a grouping depending on the number of items included. Captain Cook is remembered as one of the greatest explorers and navigators in history. His explorations included Australia, New Zealand and islands of the South Pacific and the northwest coast of North America. Hawaii was discovered by Captain Cook during this voyage. Hawaii was originally called The Sandwich Islands in honor of The Earl of Sandwich...

Four hand colored etchings and aquatints depicting interiors within English royal residences, including "The Blue Velvet Room at Carlton House", "The Queen's Library at Frogmore", "T...

The two plates in this set were created utilizing both engraving and etching techniques by William Hogarth in 1753, originally as illustrations of his book on aesthetics, entitled "Analysis of Beauty". Due to their popularity, these plates were later published separately. The publication line in the lower right reads: "Designed, Engraved, and Publish'd by Wm. Hogarth, March 5th 1753, according to Act of Parliament." Hogarth's original copper plates were refurbished where needed by James Heath and engravings were republished in London in 1822 by Braddock, Cradock & Joy. This was the last time Hogarth's copper plates were used for printing. Most were melted during World War I for the construction of bombs. These large folio sized "Analysis of Beauty" engravings are presented in antiqued gold-colored frames with double mats; the outer silk mats are light brown-colored and the inner mats are dark brown. Each frame measures 27.38" x 31.25" x 1.13". There is one tiny spot in the right margin of plate 1 and another in the lower margin; the latter could be from the printing process. The prints are otherwise in excellent condition. The "Analysis of Beauty" series is in the collection of many major museums, including: The British Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Tate Museum, The Chicago Art Institute and The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. The first engraving (Plate 1) depicts a courtyard of statues which is filled with some of the most famous works of classical sculpture. The most important sculptures are surrounded by less impressive works. The Medicean Venus (#13) is in the center with a statue of Julius Caesar (#19) to the right, elevated on a pulley with a short, overdressed Brutus stands over the falling Caesar. The Apollo Belvedere (#12) is next. A judge stands to the right with his foot on a cherub (#16). Another crying cherub holds a gallows and wipes his tears with the judge's robe. A sphinx (#21) and the drunken Silenus (#107) are below the Venus. Michaelangelo's torso (#54) and a statue of Antonius (#6) are seen in the foreground. The Farnese Hercules (#3) and a bust of another Hercules (#4) under two statuettes of Isis are also included in the scene. The key to these objects is included in the form of a serpentine line winding around a cone (#26), Hogarth's "Line of Beauty". For Hogarth the winding line is an essential element of beauty in art. Hogarth's theory of beauty is communicated in this plate. Plate 2 is thought to represent the Wanstead Assembly, with the Earl of Tynley and his household. It is an adaptation of a scene in the Happy Marriage series, which complements Hogarth's Marriage à la Mode...

Chiaroscuro woodcut with underlying engraving on cream laid paper, printed from two blocks in brown and olive. 10 1/4 x 12 3/4 inches (260 x 321 mm) (plate), full margins with the text printing clearly below in black ink. In very good condition with scattered surface soiling and several minor flecks of light discoloration in the margins, especially in the area of the lower right corner, well outside of image area. Unobtrusive notations in pencil in the margin and on the verso. All condition issues are consistent with age. After a drawing of the same title by Polidoro da Caravaggio...

SHEWRING, Walter. "A NOTE ON THE LATIN PREFACE TO ERIC GILL'S INTRODUCTION TO HIS ENGRAVINGS, 1929." San Francisco: Black Vine Press, 1964. Large folio, (388x279mm - 15 1/4 x 11 inches), 2 leaves French-folded (folded twice) to make a 4-page booklet, printed in red and black with one of Gill's initial letters from the Four Gospels. (Gill, Corey & Mackenzie, Eric Gill a bibliography 636.33) Printed by Harold Seeger & Albert Sperisen for a joint meeting of the Roxburghe-Zamorano Clubs. This is a reproduction of the original text with Gill's annotations printed in red and grey. Housed in the 15 1/2 x 11 1/2-inch envelope that accompanied the work. Walter Shewring (2906-1990) was educated at Bristol Grammar School and Corpus Christi College, Oxford, Shewring became a Catholic in 1928 and went to Ampleforth to teach classics the same year. The school's much-revered headmaster, Paul Nevill, used to tell pupils that it was "a great luxury" to be taught by such a noted classics teacher. His love of classics was not, though, confined to the classroom, and he composed much Latin and Greek prose, even publishing a volume of his .own work, Versions (Oxford .University Press). Shewring was involved, in his youth, with Eric Gill's community at Pigotts in Buckinghamshire, and through Gill, he came to know such notables as Ezra Pound, Hilaire Belloc...

An American painter, printmaker, and illustrator. His work was featured in "The Masses" and at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. This wood en...

Albert Abramovitz was working in New York in the 1930s when he made wood engravings of the construction of the Moscow subway. This image, The Wagonette, is a wrenching testament to t...

A nice rare woodcut by the noted American Artist Will Barnet. This woodcut is from 1939 and is titled and pencil signed on the base "Early Morning", Will...

An original woodcut on japan paper created by master American artist Will Barnet in 1942.