Cordoba in Spain, Antique Moonlit View of the Roman Bridge, circa 1850

A moonlit view of Cordoba on the Guadalquivir, an original antique steel engraving, uncolored, circa 1850. The caption beneath the image reads CORDOVA in SPANIEN, in English Cordoba in Spain.

The moon hangs low at the left of center, its light laid in a track on the river below. The long arched bridge crosses the river from the left toward the city, with a fortified tower at its left end, and the city rises at the right with a domed building and a tall bell tower on the skyline. In the foreground a stone quay projects into the river, where men fish with long rods, a group sits together, and figures in cloaks stand talking. At the right a woman sits among pots and other wares, and figures walk along a balustraded embankment beyond.

No artist or engraver is named on the sheet. Below the caption, the imprint at the left reads Aus d. Kunstanst. d. Bibliogr. Instit. in Hildbh. (from the art works of the Bibliographisches Institut in Hildburghausen), and at the right Eigenthum d. Verleger (property of the publishers). A plate number is engraved at the top right, above the image.

The 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 bridge at Cordoba is Roman in origin, and the bell tower stands on the minaret of the former great mosque.

Marked 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.