Lot 435
**Originally Listed At $300**
"Plate 73 - Esne (Latopolis). Elevation du portique" and "Esne (Latopolis). Plans et elevations de six chapiteaux du portique." Two engravings from "Description de l'Egypte: ou, Recueil des observations et des recherches qui ont ete faites en Egypte pendant l'expedition de l'armee francaise" Vol. 1. Second Edition, 1821. Each has blind stamp of C.L.F. Panckoucke at upper right. A visually and intellectually compelling pair of architectural engravings from the celebrated 1821 edition of "Description de l'Egypte," these two plates document the grandeur of the Temple of Esne (ancient Latopolis) with striking precision. Plate 73, titled "Esne (Latopolis). Elevation du portique," presents a full frontal rendering of the temples monumental portico, while Plate 76, "Esne (Latopolis). Plans et elevations de six chapiteaux du portique," offers six detailed studies of the porticos varied column capitals, each rendered in both elevation and plan. Size (both the same): 17.3" W x 24.3" H (43.9 cm x 61.7 cm)
Issued in Volume I of the second edition, these engravings exemplify the encyclopedic ambition and scholarly rigor that define this landmark Napoleonic work. Each bears the blind stamp of publisher Charles Louis Fleury Panckoucke at upper right.
Plate 73, "Esne (Latopolis). Elevation du portique", offers a stately architectural elevation of the temples facade. A colonnade of six massive columns marches across the composition, each crowned with an ornate capital and set before a wall of carved hieroglyphs and reliefs. The scene is symmetrical and monumental, capturing the temple as a ceremonial threshold - one that joined the sacred with the civic and the divine with the imperial. From the projecting entablature above to the meticulous incisions below, the plate renders the ancient structure with both artistic clarity and archaeological fidelity.
Plate 76, "Esne (Latopolis). Plans et elevations de six chapiteaux du portique", turns from the macro to the micro, presenting a comparative study of the porticos capitals. The six examples vary in botanical motif and proportion - some tightly wrapped with overlapping papyrus fronds, others opening with the elegant flare of lotus petals. Each capital is paired with a plan view showing its footprint and curvature, revealing the design logic behind their form. These details, often glanced over in field sketches, are here rendered with the precision of an engineer and the grace of an engraver.
Both plates originate from the monumental project titled "Description de l'Egypte: ou, Recueil des observations et des recherches qui ont ete faites en Egypte pendant l'expedition de l'armee francaise," one of the most ambitious intellectual undertakings of the early 19th century. Conceived during Napoleon Bonaparte's 1798 to 1801 Egyptian campaign, the project employed more than 150 artists, engineers, scientists, and scholars to document the monuments, natural history, and customs of Egypt. First published beginning in 1809 and issued in lavish imperial folios, it established the foundations of modern Egyptology and ignited European fascination with pharaonic civilization.
The second edition, published in 1821 by Charles Louis Fleury Panckoucke, made this monumental work more broadly accessible. These engravings, printed with high fidelity and stamped with Panckouckes blind mark, represent the enduring legacy of that edition. As archaeological documents and works of art, they exemplify a moment when conquest gave way to preservation, and when Enlightenment science met the enduring mystery of the ancient world. Together, Plates 73 and 76 offer both the majesty of architectural scale and the intimacy of ornamental detail - a rare pairing from one of the most important publications in the history of antiquarian scholarship.
Provenance: ex-Royal Athena Galleries, New York City, New York, USA
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#188628
- Condition: Each has blind stamp of C.L.F. Panckoucke at upper right. Browning and tear (possible burn mark) to upper right corner of each. Both have some staining, foxing, and slight wrinkling or creasing. Clear imagery with good remaining detail.
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| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 + | $500 |