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An  engraving from an important early book on comparative religion. These engravings of Jewish subjects are of particular historical importance. The artist, Bernard Picart, made this engraving from direct observation. Hence, alongside their artistic merit, the engravings are among the earliest images we have of the European Jewish community in the 18th Century.
(see this link for a picture from the website of the Jewish Historical Museum in Amsterdam)
Titles in French:
"Simcha Tora ou Ioye pour la Loy"; "Maniere de conduire les Epoux de la Loy, chez eux."
Rough Translations:
"Simcha Torah or the Rejoicing in the Law
[showing the Ark with Torahs in the Portuguese Synagogue in Amsterdam -- with the the 'Grooms' of the Books of the Torah to be read on this day to complete the cycle of Torah readings, to the left and right.]" "Manner of the leading of the 'Husband of the Torah' to them [the Torah being conceived as married to Israel.]"
Artist: Bernard Picart (dated 1725)  Engraver: B. Picart
Page:
9.5" x 15.25"  Each Image: 6" x 8"
Condition of image:
a crisp, fresh, very good impression BUT with the spot on the top image
Condition of page: thumbing and some spots and discolorations, otherwise good.
OVERALL: the spot but otherwishe Good to Very Good

Scanner issues: both detail and full image lack clarity of original; detail is truer to color and tone

Description: This is an original, antique, copper-plate engraving from 1727. It is on handmade, fine, heavy, laid paper. The book from which the engraving is from is "Naaukeurige Beschryving der Uitwendige Godtsdiendst-Plichten, Kerk-Zeden..." ("The Ceremonies and Religious Customs of all the Peoples of the World"). The artist for most of the engravings in the work was Bernard Picart, one of the three foremost illustrators of his day.
"The Cérémonies were a major event in the history of publishing in Europe and are also a product of the calvinist-enlightenment critique of religion. Thus, they are early examples of the study of comparative religions" (from the web-site of the Research Project of the University of Zurich. "This work is one of the most famous illustrated histories of religion of its period. The plates were often copied but none are as fine as the originals." (Chalmers). For the famous Jewish plates, see Rubens,A Jewish Iconography, London 1954, 1193ff.

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