Montfaucon, Funerary Monuments and Fighting Soldiers, Montfaucon Roman Plate, 1722, Engraving

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This is an original antique copper engraving, uncolored, a single page plate from the fourth volume of montfaucon's antiquity explained, … Read more This is an original antique copper engraving, uncolored, a single page plate from the fourth volume of montfaucon's antiquity explained, printed in london by j. Tonson and j. Watts in 1722. Three inscribed monuments dominate the upper sheet: a statue group of a woman in a broad hat with drapery about her hips and a bearded nude man with cloak, spear and shield on an inscribed base; an arched niche with rosettes in which a soldier in cloak and boots stands above a tablet; and a block on which a bearded man with cloak, staff and shield stands, with a wreath, a jug and dish, and a spear carved beside him. Below are single figures: a laureate figure in a decorated cuirass holding a sword over a crouching captive, a helmeted soldier with sword and round shield, and two bearded men with spears and curved blades beside lines of reversed lettering. The foot of the sheet shows seven fighting soldiers with shields, swords and an axe, one seizing a fallen opponent. The inscriptions read m diocles mil coh 7 mac mvnicip altin sever nic op fort d s d; on the niche d m and qvintio ingenvo veteranio ex coh iii pp ex provincia germania inferiore felici marcvs evokatvs praes et cives benember fecit; and on the block m.navivs m.f. Thales sard. Tyg et non mysiae col stat. The captions read "boissard" (twice), "narbonne", "maffei" (twice) and "sepolcri antichi" under the fighters. The numbers run from 1 to 7. The corners read "page 16", "vol iv" and "plate 5". Montfaucon's antiquity explained is the english translation by david humphreys of l'antiquité expliquée et représentée en figures, published in paris in 1719 by bernard de montfaucon (1655 to 1741), a french benedictine monk and scholar. Its fourth volume is given to war. Each figure is copied from a monument, coin, gem or earlier antiquarian book, with its source engraved beside it. The mix of carved monuments and lively fighting figures gives the sheet a strong presence on a wall. Condition: light handling wear to the top left corner; edges straight and without nicks. Light, uneven toning, soiled along the bottom, right and top edges. Foxing and several larger brown spots across much of the margin. This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed. Any framed or interior images are shown for presentation and inspiration only, unless the listing explicitly states that the item is sold framed. See less