Druids, Pharamond's Sword and the Frankish Kings Pharamond and Clodio, 1842

An original antique lithograph with hand coloring, from the Galleria Universale di Tutti i Popoli del Mondo (Venice, Giuseppe Antonelli, 1842). The upper image shows a carved relief in an arched niche, tinted in warm stone tones, of two bearded men in long draped robes; the left one lays a hand on his chest and the right one, his hair bound with leaves, holds a short staff. To the right stands a sword in its scabbard, drawn in gray with dark decorated bands and a square guard. In the lower image two crowned men in white tunics stand on a strip of green ground. The left one wears a gold crown and a fur cloak, rests a long staff on the ground and holds a round shield rimmed in gold. The right one wears a gold crown on a helmet with a yellow plume, a fur collar under a long crimson cloak, gray leg armor and a gold belt, and holds a sword with a curved guard, its point down.

The top margin is lettered Tom. IV at upper left, "FRANCIA" at center and Tav. 17 at upper right. The captions read "Druidi" (Druids), "Brando di Ferramondo" (Sword of Pharamond), "Ferramondo" (Pharamond) and "Clodione" (Clodio).

Druids were the priestly class of the ancient Celts of Gaul. Pharamond is the legendary first king of the Franks named in medieval chronicles, and Clodio was a Frankish king of the fifth century.

The crimson cloak and gold crowns give the lower pair strong color against the pale relief above.

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