Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem, Antique View of the Facade, circa 1850

The facade of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, an original antique steel engraving, uncolored, circa 1850. The caption reads KIRCHE DES HEILIGEN GRABES in Jerusalem, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

The paired arched doorways of the entrance front, with two arched windows above them, stand in the center right of the plate behind the open court. At the left rises a heavy square bell tower with arcaded openings, and below it a long wall with an awning stretched over a stall. A small domed structure and tall houses close the court at the right. The paving is crowded with robed figures, some seated and some standing in groups near the doors, with bundles and baskets in the foreground.

The engraver's credit at lower right reads L. Deifel in Nbg. sc. (L. Deifel of Nuremberg engraved it). 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 CXXVI 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 church stands over the places venerated as the site of the Crucifixion and the tomb of Jesus, and its double portal dates from the Crusader rebuilding of the twelfth century.

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

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