Africa · 18th century
€ 470
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
for age, with a central fold as issued. Minor toning and light foxing at the margins. Plate impression strong with fine detail preserved in both figures and textures.
Sacrifice Offered to the Sun – Antique Engraving, Upper Egypt, c.1790
This 18th-century copperplate engraving, titled Sacrifice Offert au Soleil, presents a striking scene carved on the mountain of Babain in Upper Egypt, approximately 35 leagues from Cairo. The image shows a rock-cut chamber, its arched opening surrounded by rough, textured stone. Inside, priests and attendants stand before a radiant solar disk, rendered with long, symmetrical rays and a central face symbolizing the sun. The figures are dressed in long robes, some wearing pointed headdresses, and are shown making offerings or gestures of reverence. Birds and symbolic objects appear in the background, reinforcing the ceremonial atmosphere.
The inscription above notes that the scene is based on an ancient carving (Il est gravé sur la Montagne de Babain dans la haute Égypte), likely recorded during an 18th-century European expedition to document Egyptian antiquities. This plate belongs to “Tome 3, N° 7” of a larger series and is signed Porlier fecit, identifying the engraver. Such plates were often included in Enlightenment-era travel and archaeological publications, where artists aimed to preserve the appearance of ancient monuments and rituals for a European readership fascinated by Egypt’s history and religion.
The subject reflects the importance of solar worship in ancient Egyptian culture, where the sun god (Ra or Amun-Ra) was a central figure in cosmology, kingship, and daily life. European illustrators of the period often combined archaeological observation with stylized artistic conventions, making such engravings valuable both as historical records and as examples of 18th-century graphic art.
Collectors of Egyptology, early archaeology, or the history of religion will find this piece an evocative representation of one of humanity’s oldest and most universal forms of worship.
Condition: Good for age, with a central fold as issued. Minor toning and light foxing at the margins. Plate impression strong with fine detail preserved in both figures and textures.
Framing tips: A black or dark walnut frame with a warm ivory mount would highlight the engraving’s contrast and detail. A double mount with a thin inner gold line could subtly echo the solar theme.
Technique: Copperplate engraving
Maker: Porlier fecit, French school, c.1790
