Genoa from the Sea, Antique Italian Harbor View in a Squall, circa 1850

This is a view of Genoa from the sea, an original antique steel engraving, uncolored, circa 1850. The caption reads GENUA., the German name for Genoa.

A heavy sea runs across the whole foreground. At the left a two masted boat with lateen sails heels hard over with its crew, and square rigged ships lie behind it. The tall lighthouse tower rises at the center right above the harbor mole, with the city climbing the hill to its right and a smaller lateen boat beyond. A floating barrel and a broken spar tumble in the waves at the center, and gulls wheel overhead.

The engraver's signature Ch. Daumerlang sc. Nbg. is engraved at the lower right just below the image. Below the caption the plate carries the house imprint, Aus d. Kunstanst. d. Bibliogr. Inst. in Hildbh. at the lower left and Eigenthum d. Verleger at the lower right. The first is the art works of the Bibliographisches Institut in Hildburghausen, the second reads "property of the publishers." The plate number CCV is engraved at the top right.

The sheet comes from a dealer's album rather than from a bound set. Its 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 Lanterna, the lighthouse at the entrance to the harbor of Genoa, has been the landmark of the port for centuries; the present tower was rebuilt in 1543.

Handling soiling along the left edge. 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.