The 14th of February (St. Valentine’s Day) 1872 |
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Original etching.
Signed with initials in the plate.
S 368 x 266 mm; P 205 x 151 mm; I 177 x 124 mm
SOLD
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Very fine impression from the only published edition.
This wonderful genre subject of the postman arriving with the greetings cards on St. Valentine’s Day is one of O’Neill’s most popular etchings and is the very essence of Victorian genre art. O’Neill, Irish by birth, specialised in genre subjects favouring in particular lively and sentimental scenes with young children.
In this etching our attention is focussed upon the archetypal image of a young Victorian girl of the style recently popularised by John Tenniell through his illustrations for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865-66).
On deep cream chine appliqué on original warm white wove backing sheet, with full margins, as issued. Minor discolouration at extreme edge of sheet, otherwise very fine original condition. Image surface excellent. |
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