Proof heavily touched with white and pencil and inscribed with the artist's directions to the engraver: The engraving, at present, is dull-for want of broad lights-I should cut out all lines where marked X leaving pure white. Then lighten all the clouds marked O not loosing [sic] the forms on the edges of these clouds-particularly over head of man waving his cap I wd have pure white. The ground shd be lightened-lights on hair of girls, [illegible] on boys; additional directions read: Lighten - Pure white on horse armour where touched to throw out girl's head - a litttle AIR here; inscribed at lower left: Rheinlander; at lower right: Return of the victor. J Swain.
Title from Meynell and other published sources.
Touched proof on India paper of a wood engraving by Swain after a painting by Sir John Gilbert, exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1879 and entitled "The return of the victors"; published in: Meynell, W., ed. Some modern artists and their work. London : Cassell & Co., 1883, p. 16.
Illustration shows a mounted procession of warriors in armor preceded by musicians and accompanied by women and children dressed in flowing garments and distributing laurels.