Hebron and the Tomb of Abraham, Antique View with Minarets, circa 1850

Hebron with the enclosure over the Tomb of Abraham, an original antique steel engraving, uncolored, circa 1850. The caption reads HEBRON UND ABRAHAMS GRAB (Palestina), Hebron and the Tomb of Abraham, Palestine.

The great walled enclosure stands at the center of the plate, with two tall minarets rising above it, the one at the right with a gallery and a small dome. A low domed building and a square block stand before it at the left, and the white houses of the town climb the slope at the right toward the hills. In the foreground a group of robed and turbaned men stands talking at the left, others sit on a ruined arched wall, and two more figures come down a path from the enclosure.

The imprint at lower left reads Aus d. Kunstanst. d. Bibliogr. Inst. 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 CC is engraved at the top right of the image. No artist or engraver is named on the sheet.

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. Jewish, Christian and Muslim tradition all place the burial of Abraham in the Cave of Machpelah at Hebron, over which this enclosure stands.

Even age toning. Marked handling soiling along the bottom, right and top edges. Scattered light foxing in the margin. Slight wear at the bottom right corner. Minor edge wear, shallow nicks along the bottom. Several larger brown marks.

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