Mount Sinai, Antique View of the Holy Mountain with an Encampment, circa 1850

Mount Sinai, an original antique steel engraving, uncolored, circa 1850. The caption below the image reads DER SINAI, that is, Sinai.

A wide valley opens between ranges of jagged peaks under a sky of streaked clouds, with the sun shining low between the summits. A sheer cliff rises on the right. In the lower left foreground a robed figure stands on a rock with both arms raised over a great crowd of kneeling and bowed people, while to the lower right the pointed tents of an encampment spread across the valley floor. A line of smoke drifts across the center of the plain.

No artist or engraver is named on the plate. The imprint at lower left reads Aus d. Kunstanst. d. Bibliogr. Instit. 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 CCVI 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. In biblical tradition Sinai is the mountain where Moses received the Law.

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.