Antique View from Mount Carmel, Bay of Acre, Holy Land Engraving, circa 1850

A view from Mount Carmel across the bay to Acre, an original antique steel engraving, uncolored, circa 1850. The caption reads AUSSICHT VOM BERGE CARMEL / PTOLOMAIS (ACRE) IN DER FERNE, a view from Mount Carmel with Ptolemais (Acre) in the distance.

The bay opens across the center of the plate under a sky crossed by long shafts of light, with the walled town of Acre small and pale on the far shore and hills rising behind it. Sailing boats lie on the water. The steep rock of Carmel rises at the right, a small building stands on the headland below it, and a grove of trees fills the middle distance. In the foreground a flock of sheep grazes on the rough slope, watched by a lone shepherd at the left.

Below the caption a reference is engraved, (I. Buch der Könige Cap. XVIII, 19.), that is 1 Kings chapter 18 verse 19, followed by the verse itself in quotation marks: Und versamle das ganze Israel auf dem Berge Carmel (and gather all Israel to Mount Carmel). The imprint at lower left reads Aus d. Kunstanstalt d. Bibliogr. Instituts in Hildbh. (from the art works of the Bibliographisches Institut in Hildburghausen), and at lower right Eigenthum d. Verleger (property of the publishers). The plate number LXXXXV is engraved at the top right of the image.

The Hildburghausen imprint is that of Meyer's Universum, a serial collection of engraved views with descriptive text published by Joseph Meyer's Bibliographisches Institut at Hildburghausen from 1833, its plates engraved on steel. The sheet comes from a dealer's album rather than from a bound set. The quoted verse is Elijah's call to gather Israel on Carmel before his contest with the prophets of Baal, and Ptolemais is the Hellenistic name of the port of Acre.

Even age toning. A few small foxing spots in the margin. Slight wear at the bottom right corner. Minor edge wear, shallow nicks along the right.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.