Dominique Baron Vivant Denon, Egyptian Antiquities from Gaza and Malta, 1802, Engraving on Paper

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This detailed engraved plate presents a carefully arranged selection of antiquities attributed to the eastern Mediterranean and North African sphere, … Read more This detailed engraved plate presents a carefully arranged selection of antiquities attributed to the eastern Mediterranean and North African sphere, including objects discovered near Gaza and a rock-cut tomb found on Malta. The upper register illustrates sculptural fragments, vessels, and relief elements, shown in profile and elevation to emphasise form, proportion, and surface detail. Below, a sequence of architectural views and measured plans documents the structure and interior of a stone-built tomb, combining exterior perspective with sectional analysis. The plate originates from an important early nineteenth-century antiquarian publication produced in the context of the French expedition to Egypt and the wider scholarly effort to document the material culture of the ancient world. During this period, artists and scholars increasingly adopted systematic methods of recording artefacts and monuments, presenting them not as isolated curiosities but as evidence within a broader historical and archaeological framework. The juxtaposition of portable objects with architectural documentation reflects this emerging scientific approach. Visually, the engraving is precise and restrained. Fine line work conveys texture and volume without excess shading, while the measured spacing of the individual studies creates a harmonious and readable composition. The generous margins and balanced layout give the sheet a refined, almost modern appearance when framed, making it well suited to both scholarly interiors and contemporary spaces that favour subtle, content-rich imagery. Plates of this type are especially appealing to collectors of early archaeology, classical and Near Eastern antiquities, and the history of travel and exploration. The combination of artefact studies and architectural documentation lends the sheet a strong intellectual presence, rewarding close inspection and contextual reading.

Condition: Original antique engraving on laid paper. Light overall age toning and minor scattered spotting consistent with age. Wide margins preserved. Plate mark faintly visible.
Technique: Engraving Maker: After Dominique Vivant Denon, France, early 19th century See less