Chepstow Castle on the Wye, Antique Engraving after E.M. Wimperis, circa 1876

The long, ivy-hung walls of Chepstow Castle stretch along a rocky bank above still water in this steel engraving. Round towers and a gatehouse stand at the left, where two small figures pass through the entrance and cattle graze on the slope, and the roofless great tower rises from the center among trees. In the foreground cattle wade into the river to drink, a country girl stands on the path at the right beneath tall trees, and a flock of birds crosses a sky full of bright, piled clouds.

The plate is lettered "Chepstow Castle." The castle stands on a cliff above the River Wye in Monmouthshire, near the border of England and Wales, and is one of the earliest stone castles in Britain, begun by the Normans soon after 1066. The Wye valley was a favorite destination for picturesque travelers, and the castle a highlight of the river journey. The drawing is credited to E.M. Wimperis and the engraving to R. Hinshelwood, with the imprint of Cassell, Petter & Galpin of London below.

The technique is steel engraving, printed in black on wove paper and uncolored. Hinshelwood contrasts the glassy, horizontal lines of the river with the crumbling texture of the walls and the soft masses of ivy and foliage, and the reflections of the cattle are carefully drawn.

Its balanced composition and quiet mood suit a dining room or library, especially in a warm wood frame with an off-white mat.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.