Cathedral at Tortosa, Gothic Interior in Syria, Antique Aquatint, 1810

An original antique aquatint with original hand color, published in London in 1810, after a drawing by Luigi Mayer. The caption reads "CATHEDRAL AT TORTOSA.", Tortosa being the medieval name of Tartus on the Syrian coast.

The view runs down the length of the nave between rows of heavy round piers to a pale pointed window at the far end, under a ribbed vault. Tall lancet windows light the aisle at the left. At the right, smiths in turbans work at a brick forge with a fire and swing hammers over an anvil, while a man watches from behind a pier. In the center two men in long robes talk, one with a curved sword, and another walks with a staff. At the left a man sits against a pier with a staff while another lies prostrate beside him, and small figures stand further down the nave.

The caption is engraved in open capitals below the image, and the imprint beneath it names R. Bowyer at 80 Pall Mall and the year 1810. No artist or engraver is named on the plate; the aquatints in this book are unsigned and are probably the work of William Watts.

The plate belongs to Views in the Ottoman Dominions, in Europe, in Asia, and some of the Mediterranean Islands, from the original drawings taken for Sir Robert Ainslie by Luigi Mayer, printed by T. Bensley for R. Bowyer in London in 1810 with 71 hand colored aquatint plates (Abbey, Travel II, 371; Tooley 321). Luigi Mayer (1755 to 1803) was an Italian born artist who worked in the Ottoman Empire for Sir Robert Ainslie, British ambassador at Constantinople from 1776 to 1792. The cathedral of Our Lady of Tortosa was built by the Crusaders in the twelfth century.

Light uneven toning, browner towards the edges. Marked handling soiling along the bottom, left and top edges. Scattered light foxing in the margin.

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