Antique View of Absalom's Tomb, Jerusalem, Steel Engraving, circa 1850

The monument called Absalom's Tomb in the Kidron valley at Jerusalem, an original antique steel engraving, uncolored, circa 1850. The caption reads DAS ABSALONSCHE MAUSOLEUM, the Mausoleum of Absalom.

The tomb stands at the left of the plate, a square block with engaged columns cut from the rock and crowned by a tall conical cap, under a thin crescent moon. A figure sits at its foot. The valley falls away into the distance, with a battlemented wall on the height at the upper right and a multi-arched bridge low at the right. A flock of sheep grazes on the slope in the foreground among fallen blocks and a broken stone coffin at the lower left.

The imprint at lower left reads Aus d. Kunstanst. d. Bibliogr. Instit. 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 CLII is engraved at the top right of the image. No artist or engraver is named on the sheet.

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 monument stands in the Kidron valley below the eastern wall of Jerusalem and is traditionally named after Absalom, the son of King David.

Handling soiling along the bottom, left and top edges. A few small foxing spots in the margin. Corners and edges are not shown by this scan. Clean, even paper tone in the margin.

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