Antique Print, Abbe Constantin based on Ludavic Halevy's Story (AR-A493)
 
This is a photogravure depicting a scene from Abbé Constantin the title of a novel written by Ludovic Halévy and published in 1882. The Illustration was done by Madeleine Lemaire for an edition of the novel. The story revolves around Abbé Constantin, a kind-hearted priest serving in the village of Longueval, whose life is disrupted by the arrival of two wealthy American sisters. One of the sisters inherits a fortune and buys a castle near the village, leading to interactions and changes in the Abbé's life. The novel explores themes of charity, duty, and the clash between traditional values and modern society. 
The Priest is wearing a long, dark robe cinched at the waist with a cord, a wide-brimmed hat, and appears to be pruning or training the vines. The ladder is leaning against a light-colored wall, and the vines are lush and leafy, suggesting a garden or courtyard setting. There are also some indistinct shapes at the bottom left of the image, possibly garden furniture or other objects. The overall style of the illustration is reminiscent of late 19th or early 20th-century artwork.
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Also included is the tissue paper covering with a brief description of the scene.
This is an original,  not a reproduction. It came from a destroyed 1st edition book published in 1892 by Selmar Hess called Character Sketches of Romance Fiction and Drama. There is some damage, aging to the bound side of the print. All prints are either wood engravings, etchings, photogravure, or typogravure.
Approx Size - 11.5"x 9"