'The Final Draft'

The original title is unknown and the sender of the image writes:

In looking at the print "The Jackdraw of Rheims" you can see the a similarity in the excellent portrayal of facial expressions which I love so much in my painting. The detail is just exquisite. I thought I might give you slightly more information on the painting ...

It is probably difficult for you to see, but in the arched doorway to the right there are three men printing pages on a printing press. The men at the lefthand table appear to be admiring what is probably a newly printed book. There is also another book lying on the ground at the right corner of the righthand table. The two women in the left doorway appear to be carrying a roast beef. It seems to me the subject of the painting is a celebration of the newly printed book...

It is a fairly dark painting ... the lighter section in the right top corner is painted to indicate the sunlight streaming into the courtyard. I also think it helps to accentuate the men working in the printing room.

There is also a sign over the arch by the printing press, probably indicating the trade, but it is hard to see because of the angle of it. If you would like to mention that the painting is privately owned, in New York, that is fine, but I would prefer not to have my name mentioned on the web-site.