About this sheet
Original Antique Print of Mountain Roads and Rock-Cut Passes by Bertuch, c. 1800
Original antique copper engraving depicting two remarkable mountain roads cut through steep rocky terrain, published in Friedrich Justin Bertuch’s celebrated “Bilderbuch für Kinder” around the beginning of the 19th century.
The plate is titled “Verm. Gegenst. XXXVIII / Mélanges XXXVIII” and contains two finely engraved views illustrating impressive feats of early road building and engineering.
Fig. 1 depicts a roadway passing through a deep artificial cutting between towering rock walls. Architectural structures and an arched passage are incorporated into the cliffs, while travelers, horses and a carriage provide a sense of the enormous scale of the excavation.
Fig. 2 shows another spectacular mountain passage, where a road or stepped route has been constructed through a rugged rocky gorge. Small figures and architectural elements appear among the cliffs, emphasizing the difficulty of creating transportation routes through such dramatic terrain.
The finely engraved landscapes reflect the fascination around 1800 with engineering, travel and the transformation of difficult natural landscapes through human ingenuity.
Friedrich Justin Bertuch (1747–1822) was a German publisher, writer and patron of the arts. His monumental “Bilderbuch für Kinder” (Picture Book for Children) was one of the great illustrated educational encyclopedias of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Published in Weimar from 1790 onward, it contained hundreds of engraved and hand-colored plates covering natural history, geography, science, technology, architecture, antiquity and numerous other subjects.
An atmospheric early engraving combining mountain scenery, travel and the history of engineering.
Creator:
Friedrich Justin Bertuch (1747–1822)
Source:
Bilderbuch für Kinder
Plate:
Vermischte Gegenstände XXXVIII / Mélanges XXXVIII
Place of Publication:
Weimar, Germany
Date of Manufacture:
Circa 1800
Period:
Early 19th Century
Style:
Neoclassical – In the Period of
Medium:
Copper engraving on paper
Condition:
Good. Wear consistent with age and use. Light age-related toning and occasional minor spotting and handling marks. Minor marginal wear. Engraved impressions remain strong and detailed. Please refer to the photographs for further details of condition.
Please note:
This is an original antique print from circa 1800, not a modern reproduction. The print is sold unframed. Framed images or interior views, if shown, are for presentation and inspiration only.
Keywords:
antique mountain print, mountain road, rock cut road, mountain pass, historic engineering, road engineering, antique engineering print, mountain landscape, travel engraving, Grand Tour print, early transportation, classical landscape, Bertuch print, Friedrich Justin Bertuch, antique landscape engraving, circa 1800
