Steel engraving is a graphic technique belonging to intaglio printing - also the name of an engraving made with this technique. It involves making an engraving with an engraving die on a steel plate. It requires a high degree of precision from the engraver, as retouches and corrections are almost impossible due to the hardness of the material. After the engraving is completed, the plate is additionally hardened.
The technique of intaglio was invented by Americans Jacob Perkins and Gideon Fairman with a view to multi-printing of banknotes. Englishman Charles Heath used the technique to print illustrations and patented it in 1820. In the 19th century it was used to create book illustrations, while in modern times it is mainly used to make some of the security elements of banknotes, and less often to print postage stamps, the vast majority of which are produced using the offset technique.
The steel engraving presented at auction depicts Stanislaw Poniatowski, father of the last king of Poland, Stanislaw August.
Based on a painting of Józef Peszka (1767-1831) by James Hopwood, it is part of the series "Portraits of Famous Poles".
Very good condition, intaglio framed in dark green passe-partout cardboard.
Dimensions: 300 x 215 mm (framed), 275 x 180 mm (intaglio alone).
