The visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon

The photogravure engraving of 'The Visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon' is of interest because it is framed in a mini replica of Poynter’s original artist-designed frame. No other examples of similarly framed prints of the painting are known. It is thought that such an elaborate and expensive frame was not even a limited-edition commercial venture, but made as a one-off show piece to accompany the big picture during its tour of the UK in 1892. The big picture had no such elaborate frame at the time of its tour. Nothing on the back indicates its origins (there are no labels or manufacturer’s marks). Whoever made it must have had reference to the original frame, and so this can only have been directly or indirectly from Poynter himself, via the painting’s original owner, the dealer and publisher, Thomas McLean.

The photogravure was published by Raphael Tuck and Sons, London in 1892, the same year the original painting was purchased by the AGNSW from Thomas McLean’s Gallery in London, following its tour of the UK. McLean also owned copyright for the print, and subsequent printings bore the inscription: 'respectfully dedicated to the Trustees of the National Art Gallery of New South Wales'. The print is signed in pencil both by Poynter and Girardet (the crafsman who prepared the copper plate), which was standard.