Basil the Blacksmith

By Little Paris Fine Arts

This illustration is from Page 11 from 1850’s first illustrated version (David Bogue, London,1850) of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s epic poem “Evangeline”. Myles Birket Foster was a famous British artist, also especially known for his watercolors and other paintings. London’s Henry Vizetelly, was perhaps first known for his work with “The Illustrated London News”, formed his own engraver firm in 1800 and carved this print from Foster’s artwork The image was scanned from an original first edition copy of the book. Related verses in the poem: Part the First, Canto I. “Swiftly they hurried away to the forge of Basil the blacksmith. There at the door they stood, with wondering eyes to behold him Take in his leathern lap the hoof of the horse as a plaything, Nailing the shoe in its place; while near him the tire of the cart-wheel Lay like a fiery snake, coiled round in a circle of cinders.