Mount Ararat from the Heights near Erivan, Antique View with Rainbow, circa 1850

Mount Ararat seen from the heights near Erivan, an original antique steel engraving, uncolored, circa 1850. The caption reads Der ARARAT von der Höhe bey ERIWAN, Ararat from the heights near Erivan.

The snow-capped peak of Ararat rises at the center right of the plate above a wide dark plain, with a rainbow arching down at either side of the mountain under a broken sky. A tall ruined tower stands at the left among trees. Across the plain lie small villages and a tent. In the foreground a line of travelers on horseback and on foot, with a woman riding in a covered saddle, moves along the track, a camel with its load stands at the right and a man in a long coat walks at the left.

The engraver's credit at lower right reads Engd by W. Wkns London (engraved by W. Wkns, London). The imprint at lower left reads Aus d. Kunstanstalt d. Bibliogr. Instituts 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 LXXXXI is engraved at the top right of the image.

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. Ararat is the mountain traditionally associated with the landing of Noah's Ark, and Erivan is the older name of Yerevan, today the capital of Armenia.

Handling soiling along the bottom and right 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.