Still Thrilled With Antique Gift
by: F W Guerin of St. Louis
When showing my sister around Pennsylvania and New York during her visit from California, we happened across an antique shop in Westfield, NY. I spotted a beautiful framed antique print of a little girl and a St. Bernard-type dog. I loved it but wasn't sure if I should spend that much money. With many more shops to look at we moved on. My sister and I often referred back to that wonderful print.
On Christmas Eve a large, wrapped, what looked to be a frame was in my pile of gifts. I don't know how he managed to get to NY and back without my knowledge but my wonderful husband did it. I just adore the print and it goes well in our old house.
I have come to find out through hours of researching the internet, that this is actually a photogravure from between 1850s to 1900. I had never heard of photogravure or intaglio before. So this print was from an actual photograph that was etched onto a copper plate and retouched with an engraver. That is why it looks a lot like it is a picture of a painting. I'm including a few closeups to see the hand engraving. I guess the process wasn't entirely reliable enough to not have to touch up until the first decade of the twentieth century. If you click on the dog to enlarge it, you will see the whiskers were touched up, the background I think was added or was a backdrop. I find it all fascinating. It looks a lot like a painting. I found other original photos by the photographer in the Library of Congress but not this one.
The photographer that took this photo served in the Civil War. He was from St. Louis, MO. Luck would have it that we will spend a few days this summer in St. Louis for a conference. I know I'll be scanning the library there for info on the artist while my husband is working.
Click to enlarge.Labels: antiques
posted by Erie's Argonaut at 1/08/2007 11:36:00 AM
4 Comments:
I forgot to mention that this print is by F W Guerin of St. Louis.
Linda: I just lucked up on your site...my name is Susan and I live in Washington,NC...my mother has this print on her wall also,so I was excited to seeyour post since I have been trying to find out something about it for her...she also loves the print...she acquired it thru the family and knows that it is old....Please advise me if you have any other information concerning this print such as the appraisal value...Thank you for any info you can supply...
Linda: I was excited to see the print you describe with the girl & dog...my mother has this same print in her home and it was passed down to her thru the family so she knows it is very old....I also am interested in any information you may have concerning it other than it was by F.W. guerin...I have done a little research concerning him...Have you had it appraised? I would be interested in anything or any info you can provide...thank you so much...I live in Washington,NC....Susan
Sorry it took so long to get back to you. This blog has been retired and I don't check it too frequently. There is 109 photo collection with the Library of Congress that was put online here http://tinyurl.com/3arrcu
I have found this (below) out from someone that is researching for a book.
These quotes are taken out of context from an email sent to me. I won't give the email address as the guy probably has been bothered too much already.
=======================
________________________
"Guerin is a part of the Mississippi River
Valley photographers of the late 19th Century."
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"As to the dating of the images: I think that the prints were sent as
a group to the Library of Congress for copyright protection by his
heirs. In what is highly unusual, the 350 prints were kept in the
permanent collection instead of being pitched or deaccessioned. Then,
on top of that, someone decided that 109 were interesting enough to
be put online - which in this day and age means you're going to be
discovered - and rightly so. So, it looks like a fortuitous journey
for Guerin's work."
___________________________
" I notice that on the Library of
Congress site it says "photo-mechanical", which is a gravure."
______________________________
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Linda added:
I'm quite sure mine, that is pictured here in my blog, is a gravure. I really don't think the appraised value will be all that much but I love the girl and her dog. I think it is as cute as could be. But who knows. It is worth what some one else will pay for it. My husband paid between $100 and $200 for the print in the beautiful old frame.
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