Antique View of the Tombs of the Kings, Jerusalem, Steel Engraving, circa 1850

The Tombs of the Kings near Jerusalem, an original antique steel engraving, uncolored, circa 1850. The caption reads DIE GRÆBER DER KŒNIGE bey Jerusalem, the Tombs of the Kings near Jerusalem.

The rock-cut entrance fills the center of the plate, a dark opening beneath a carved frieze cut into the cliff face, with creepers and shrubs hanging over the rock above and at the left. A tall palm rises at the right among broad-leaved plants. In the foreground three robed and turbaned men sit among broken stones beside a carved stone slab, one of them holding a long staff upright, and two more figures recline in the shade at the right of the entrance.

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 CXXX 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 long called the Tombs of the Kings is the rock-cut tomb of Queen Helena of Adiabene, of the first century AD, north of the Old City of Jerusalem.

Marked 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. Several larger brown marks.

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