19th Century Mont-Barkal Etching From Voyage À Méroé by Frédéric Cailliaud, Framed

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This antique etching titled “Mont-Barkal”, Plate LI (51), is from the important early 19th-century publication Voyage à Méroé, au Fleuve … Read more This antique etching titled “Mont-Barkal”, Plate LI (51), is from the important early 19th-century publication Voyage à Méroé, au Fleuve Blanc by French naturalist and explorer Frédéric Cailliaud, published between 1823 and 1827. The full French caption, “VUE DES PYRAMIDES NORD-OUEST, PRISE DU SUD-EST,” translates to “View of the pyramids Northwest, taken from the Southeast.” The image depicts the ancient Nubian pyramids at Jebel Barkal near present-day Karima in northern Sudan. Cailliaud documented the region between 1819 and 1822, and his illustrations represent some of the earliest detailed European visual records of this historically significant site.

Jebel Barkal was a major religious and political center of the ancient Kingdom of Kush and is now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its exceptional archaeological and cultural importance. The mountain was closely associated with the god Amun, whose primary temple stood at its base, reinforcing the site’s sacred status in antiquity. The print is housed behind glass in a vintage wooden frame with a dark finish and is complemented by a wide, natural-toned fabric mat, likely linen. This classic framing presentation enhances the historical character of the artwork while making it well suited for display in traditional, academic, or curated interior settings. See less