Alexandria Port Panorama, Denon, Napoleon Egypt Engraving, 1802
€ 770
Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)
Date
1802
Mapmaker / artist
Dominique Baron Vivant Denon (after), Paris, 1802
Technique
Engraving
Sheet size
41.5 × 58.5 cm (16.3 × 23.0 in)
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-14182-29
What the condition grades mean
Excellent
Bright and clean, with no faults worth mentioning.
Very good
Only light signs of age, such as faint toning.
Good
Normal signs of age for a sheet of this period: toning, some foxing, small marks or neat old repairs.
Fair
Clear faults such as staining, tears or repairs, priced to match.
Every fault we see is written in the condition note, and the whole sheet is shown uncropped in the photos.
Condition
Good, with light age toning and a faint but visible plate mark; margins ample.
About this sheet
Alexandria Port Panorama, Denon, Napoleon Egypt Engraving, 1802 This finely engraved panoramic view of the Port neuf of Alexandria originates from Voyage dans la Basse et la Haute Égypte, published in Paris in 1802 by Pierre Didot l’Aîné and illustrated by Dominique Baron Vivant Denon. Produced in the immediate aftermath of Napoleon Bonaparte’s Egyptian campaign, the work represents one of the earliest visual records of Egypt created from direct, first-hand observation.
Denon’s long horizontal composition captures the harbor, shoreline, and distant urban fabric of Alexandria with remarkable clarity and restraint. The emphasis is architectural and geographical rather than romantic, reflecting Enlightenment ideals of documentation and accuracy. The panoramic format allows the scene to unfold gradually, making it particularly effective as a continuous visual narrative.
As one of the foundational works that later informed the monumental Description de l’Égypte, Denon’s publication occupies a pivotal position in the history of European Egyptology. This plate is especially appealing to collectors of Napoleonic history, early travel literature, and refined architectural engravings, while its proportions make it highly suitable for elegant interior display.
Condition: Good, with light age toning and a faint but visible plate mark; margins ample.
Framing tips: Dark walnut or ebonised frame with a wide ivory or warm gray mat; float mounting enhances the panoramic effect.
