Romance · 19th century
€ 595
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Good condition. Slight dust soiling and light age toning in the margins. The image remains clean and attractive. Overall condition is very good for a print of this age.
A charming original Regency-period stipple engraving titled The Fountain of Love, published in London by Edward Orme on July 30, 1815. This elegant allegorical composition depicts a graceful young woman beside a fountain attended by Cupid, who operates the mechanism feeding the symbolic spring. The scene celebrates the romantic ideals and classical taste that characterized the Regency era.
Executed in the refined stipple engraving technique and delicately hand colored, the print possesses the soft tonal qualities and subtle elegance for which early nineteenth-century decorative prints are admired. The female figure, dressed in flowing classical drapery, approaches the fountain while Cupid crouches beneath, emphasizing the timeless theme of love as an unseen yet powerful force. A pair of white doves in the background further reinforce the symbolism of affection, harmony, and devotion.
Edward Orme was one of London's most prominent print publishers during the late Georgian and Regency periods. His publications were prized for their quality and decorative appeal, and today remain highly sought after by collectors of Regency art, decorative engravings, and romantic subjects.
The generous margins surrounding the image enhance its decorative character and make it particularly suitable for framing. The restrained palette of soft blues, greens, and warm cream tones allows the print to blend beautifully into both traditional and contemporary interiors.
This is an original engraving published in 1815 and not a later reproduction.
Condition Report:
Slight dust soiling and light age toning in the margins. The image remains clean and attractive. Overall condition is good for a print of this age.
Framing Tips:
This print displays particularly well with a wide ivory museum mat and either a gilt, ebonized, or French Empire-style frame. The framed images shown are for visual inspiration only. The print is sold unframed.
Technique: Hand-colored stipple engraving
Maker: Published by Edward Orme, London, 1815
