Orders of the Two Sicilies, Saint George of the Reunion, Plate XXII, 1844

This is an original antique wood engraving, colored by hand, showing insignia of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. At the upper left is a breast star (6): a red cross fleury edged in gold over crossed gold swords, green laurel and white rays, with a blue ring around Saint George on horseback slaying the dragon in gold. At the upper right hangs the large badge (7), the same red cross with swords in a green laurel wreath, on a blue ribbon edged in orange, with a separate gold pendant of Saint George and the dragon below it. On the left a smaller cross with swords and no wreath (9) hangs from the same blue and orange ribbon. At the lower right a cross in a laurel wreath (8) repeats the design on a smaller scale. At the lower left a gold medal (10) shows a crowned standing figure in a cloak, holding a sword and a wreath, on a blue ribbon edged in crimson.

The running head reads "DEUX-SICILES." (Two Sicilies) and the plate number is printed "XXII" without a stop. The pieces are numbered 6 to 10. The blue rings of the star and crosses read "IN HOC SIGNO VINCES" (in this sign you will conquer) around Saint George, the insignia of the Order of Saint George of the Reunion.

The plate comes from Ordres de Chevalerie et Marques d'Honneur, published by Auguste Wahlen and issued in Brussels by the Librairie Historique-Artistique, rue de Schaerbeek, 12, in 1844. Auguste Wahlen was the pen name of the Belgian writer Jean-François-Nicolas Loumyer (1801 to 1875), whose title page lists his own knighthoods in orders of Prussia, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Hanover, Greece, the Roman States, Saxe-Coburg and Brazil.

The repeated red crosses and blue ribbons give the plate a strong rhythm that reads well framed.

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