Lima, Peru, with the Stone Bridge over the Rimac, Steel Engraving, circa 1850

Lima, the capital of Peru, an original antique steel engraving, uncolored, circa 1850. The caption below the image reads simply LIMA.

The city is seen across a broad river, its domes and church towers ranged along the left of the skyline, with a tall belfry and a pair of twin towers among them. A long stone bridge of several arches crosses the water at the center. On the right a paved riverside road runs along a low parapet below ruined walls topped by a cross; along it walk men in wide hats and ponchos, a laden mule is led toward the viewer, and a man leans over the parapet beside a striped cloth laid with fruit, with two large jars at his feet and a fishing rod propped against the wall over the water. At the left a low bank of reeds and plants stands in the river with figures on it, and birds wheel over the water.

No artist or engraver is named on the plate. 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 CCCLVIII is engraved at the top right.

The sheet comes from a dealer's album rather than from a bound set. Meyer's Universum was 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. Lima was founded by Francisco Pizarro in 1535 on the banks of the Rimac.

Loss or wear at the top left and top right corners. A deeper irregularity along the left edge. Handling soiling along the left edge. Clean, even paper tone in the margin.

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