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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: "Les
Acafoth ou les sept tours, autour du Cercueil." "Les Assistans
jettent de la terre sur le Corps."
Rough Translations: "The Acafoth or the seven turns around
the coffin (by seven male members of the Portugese Jewish community --
dated with the Jewish year 5465 {Gregorian year 1704} and in the home
of David Espinoza Gatela)"; "The Assistants dig the grave
for the body (showing men putting earth in by hand, others are singing,
praying, and talking)."
-- Probably from life by Picart
Artist: Bernard
Picart (dated in the plate -- 1723)
Engraver: B. Picart
Page: 10.5"
x 17.25" Each
Image: 6"
x 8"
Condition of image: rich and pristine
Condition of
page: fine with a tiny worm hole
and a few other minor problem also in margin. OVERALL: FINE
Scanner issues: both
detail and full image lack clarity of original; detail is truer to color
and tone
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Description:
This is an original, antique, copper-plate engraving from 1723.
It is on handmade, fine, heavy, laid paper. The book from which the engraving
is from is "Ceremonies et Coutumes Religieuses de tous les Peuples
du Monde" ("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) |
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