Views of Africa · 18th century
€ 570
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Good antique condition. Light age toning and minor scattered spotting consistent with 18th-century paper. Full plate mark visible. Margins intact. No tears, losses, or restorations observed.
View of Deir el-Tin near Old Cairo – Antique Egypt City Engraving by Norden, c.1755
This finely executed 18th-century engraving depicts a detailed perspective view of Deir el-Tin, a settlement located beyond Old Cairo, rendered with architectural clarity and spatial depth. The scene presents a gently rising approach toward the town, with fortified walls, domestic buildings, minarets, trees, and figures animating the foreground. Camels, pedestrians, and cultivated spaces provide a vivid sense of daily life along the outskirts of Cairo in the mid-18th century.
The plate originates from Voyage d’Égypte et de Nubie by Frederik Ludvig Norden, first published in Copenhagen in 1755. Norden, a Danish naval officer and skilled draughtsman, was among the earliest European travelers to document Egypt through direct observation rather than theatrical reconstruction. His views combine architectural accuracy with a restrained compositional style that emphasizes geography, settlement structure, and human activity.
Unlike purely panoramic Nile views, this engraving focuses on the urban and semi-rural fabric of Cairo’s surroundings. The careful rendering of walls, towers, bridges, and roads makes this plate particularly appealing to collectors interested in early city views, Islamic architecture, and pre-Napoleonic representations of Egypt. At the same time, the balanced horizontal format and calm tonality make it highly suitable for interior display.
Condition report:
Good antique condition. Light age toning and minor scattered spotting consistent with 18th-century paper. Full plate mark visible. Margins intact. No tears, losses, or restorations observed.
Framing tips:
Frame with a wide off-white or light parchment mat to emphasize the plate mark. Dark walnut, blackened wood, or simple black frames complement the architectural subject and line work.
Technique: Copper engraving
Maker: Frederik Ludvig Norden, Copenhagen, circa 1755
Keyword block:
Cairo, Old Cairo, Deir el-Tin, Egypt city view, Islamic architecture, Orientalist travel, Frederik Ludvig Norden, Copenhagen 1755, antique Egypt engraving, urban landscape
