Antique View of the River Jordan, Pilgrims at the Ford, Engraving, circa 1850

The River Jordan, an original antique steel engraving, uncolored, circa 1850. The caption below the image reads DER JORDAN with the line an der Stelle des Uebergangs der Israeliten unter Josua beneath, that is, the Jordan at the place where the Israelites crossed under Joshua.

The river comes down from a gap in the hills, where a mountain rises in the haze, and widens toward the foreground between thickly wooded banks. A crowd in robes, turbans and veils stands on a rocky ledge under tall trees on the left bank, and women with water jars on their heads stand at the water's edge below them. Bathers swim in the near water by a clump of bushes. At the center two riders take their horses across the ford, and on the far bank at the right a long line of people and riders follows the shore beneath the trees.

No artist or engraver is named on the plate. 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 sheet comes from a dealer's album rather than from a bound set. Meyer's Universum was 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 Book of Joshua describes the Israelites crossing the Jordan into the promised land, and Christian tradition places the baptism of Jesus on the same river.

Handling soiling along the left and top edges. Scattered light foxing 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.