Click above to view the 13 slides that show the development of the engraving "Filbert P. Nutschell, Prince of the Fairies, Contends Herod." The print was begun early in December, 2000 shortly after I received a gift of two rather thick copper plates each measuring 18"x 24". It had been a number of years since I had attempted a large engraving. In 1973 I spent 5 months engraving the 24"x 36" plate for "The Every Day Occurrence." That adventure was immediately followed by seven months on an engraving titled " Albert's Dog", a truly daunting job measuring 22"x 35 1/4".

The copper this time came with the promise that I would reward the fellow with a print from whatever I produced on those plates. Early on I decided to try something new, I would do a two-color engraving, probably blue and black. I began with the image of a man wearing a black derby, glasses, a wristwatch, a tie, holding a lighted candle aloft in one hand while the other hand holds a glass of wine. A similar image is a print that I did in 1968 titled "Visitation While Herod Searches."

I have always enjoyed the study of and use of iconography and this Filbert P. print is no exception. The dark suited man is Herod involved in his "Massacre of the Innocents." He and his armies are searching for victims. Years ago I ran across an apocryphal story that explained how John The Baptist and his mother survived the Massacre. While Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt, Elizabeth and the infant John were swallowed up by a mountain as Herod and his armies went by. I would put them in a rock. I would also show Mary and Elizabeth embracing (The Visitation) within the cavity of a rock as well.

Shortly after I began this project, I received an invitation to participate in an exhibition at the Wustum Museum in Racine, Wisconsin. This thematic show would open in June 2001 and be concerned with fairy tales, myths and legends. It seemed as though fate had decreed I would accept. The Exhibition "Once Upon a Time: Artists Examine Fairy Tales, Legends and Myth" would be held June3 through August 26, 2001. Filbert, Prince of the Fairies would do his magic and join battle with Herod's armies.

Once I'd begun the black plate I needed to create objects where hidden needle holes could be drilled thru both plates to be used as registration markings. I chose instead one of the light bulbs on a chandelier and an eyelet in the belt worn by one of Herod's soldiers in the foreground. A friend of mine in the Northern Illinois University School of Engineering came through with a very fine needle sized drill, drilling in the identical location through both plates.