19th Century Pair Of Engraving Soldiers Farewell Soldiers Return Hussar Girl Doll C 1850

This is a rare opportunity to purchase a matching pair of engravings from the 19th century, circa 1850 These early Victorian prints are titled ‘The Farewell’ and ‘The Return’ and features a soldier leaving his family for war and then returning to his family from war.

The soldier is a Hussar; the scene is after an original painting by Henry Corbould (b 1787 – d 1844) who was an English artist and draughtsman (see references below). Corbould being most well known for providing the sketch for the famous Penny Black postage stamp, the world's first adhesive postage stamp used in a public postal system.

‘The Farewell’ features a soldier leaving his distraught wife and daughter, notice the little girls bonnet and her favourite doll on the floor. The text below reads:

‘Farewell dearest love, one kiss more and adieu. I have new prospects of glory in view. Then drop not a tear but from sorrow refrain. And dwell on the day that unites us again.’

‘The Return’ features the same soldier returning to his family. The text below reads:

‘Dearest love at length in the arms I return. Our absence the more (made us?) then pine. No longer the angers of war shalt thou mourn. To thy because the field I resign.’

The engravings are housed behind their original glass in their original frames. The perfect artworks for anyone who loves history and all things military. 

Reference: Accession number E.204-1948 and Accession number E.205-1948 in the Victoria & Albert Museum’s online collection.

Measuring: Frame width 6 7/8 inch (17.5 cm) by height 8 ¾ inch (22 cm). Aperture width 4 3/8 inch (11 cm) by height 6 3/8 inch (16.5 cm).

Condition: Abrased surface wear to frames/glass commensurate with age. ‘Farwell’ has a vertical cut/tear line to top of paper which is perfectly stable.

Item ID:16799/167800