Views of Africa · 18th century
€ 340
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Good condition overall. Minor age-related toning and slight edge wear. Margins generally clean, with faint creasing in places. Fold lines as issued. Impressions remain sharp and finely detailed.
Colossus of Memnon at Thebes, Egypt – Antique Front and Rear Views, c.1776
This striking pair of antique engravings offers front and rear views of the Colossus of Memnon, one of the most iconic monuments of ancient Egypt, located near Luxor (ancient Thebes) on the west bank of the Nile. These monumental seated statues once flanked the entrance to the mortuary temple of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, built during Egypt’s 18th Dynasty in the 14th century BCE. The engravings date from circa 1790 and are part of a Dutch antiquarian series documenting ancient Egyptian ruins prior to the widespread European exploration sparked by Napoleon’s expedition.
The left engraving (Pl. XXXVII), titled *Het Memnon-Beeld te Thebe* (The Memnon Statue at Thebes), shows the colossal figure facing forward in a seated position with hands resting on knees. Flanking the king’s legs are two smaller standing figures, likely representing the queen and a royal daughter. In the foreground, several 18th-century figures in Middle Eastern dress observe the monument, highlighting the growing European interest in Egyptology at the time.
The right engraving (Pl. XXXVI), titled *Het Memnons-Beeld, van achter te zien* (The Memnon Statue, seen from the back), presents the rear view of the statue, revealing hieroglyphic inscriptions carved on a vertical panel down the statue’s back pillar. This back view emphasizes the massive scale of the statue, which stood over 18 meters high and was carved from a single block of quartzite transported from near Cairo.
These prints are not only of artistic merit, but also valuable records of Egypt’s monumental heritage at a time when many ruins were still partly buried or in a fragmentary state.
Condition summary:
Both sheets are in very good condition, with light age toning and minor edge wear. The impressions remain crisp with excellent detail in the figures and engraved lines.
Framing tips:
Consider framing the two prints side by side in a matched set with black or dark wood frames. A neutral mat (cream or light gray) will help focus attention on the stately presence of the statues. Ideal for display in a study, library, or collector’s space focused on antiquity.
Technique: Engraving
Maker: Unknown (Netherlands, circa 1790)
