Temptation. Painted by W.Hemsley. Pheasant and hare engraving c1858

by The Illustrated London News

"Temptation" painted by W. Hemsley. from the exhibition of the Society of British Artists.

Original wood engraving by W. Thomas after the oil painting by William Hemsley (1819-1893). Published in London circa 1858 for the world's first graphic newspaper, The Illustrated London News. Published weekly from 1842, engraved images of events and discoveries from around the world ensured the popularity of this publication.

William Hemsley flourished as an artist between 1848 and 1893. The son of an architect, W. Hemsley was also an architect in London, and taught himself painting. He travelled in Germany and Holland, and often painted children at play. He preferred to paint genre scenes, and was a member of the Society of British Artists.

Engravings have always been avidly collected and hand-tinted with watercolour for further enjoyment.This engraving is one such and is only half a page. Full page size would have been 41 x 29 cm (approximately 16 x 11 inches).