Roskilde Cathedral, Denmark, Antique Moonlit View with Fishermen, circa 1850

Roskilde Cathedral in Denmark, an original antique steel engraving, uncolored, circa 1850. The caption below the image reads DIE ROESKILDE CATHEDRALE, that is, Roskilde Cathedral.

The cathedral stands on rising ground at the center right, its two tall west spires and long roof seen above trees and the houses of the town. A full moon breaks through the clouds at the left of center and lights the water below. In the foreground at the right fishermen work by a fire in the dark, with nets hung up to dry, barrels and a beached boat around them, beside a row of gabled cottages. Two boats lie drawn up at the water's edge on the left, one with a tall mast, and small figures walk along the bank and the path toward the town.

The plate is lettered at lower left, just below the image, "C. Reiss del." (drawn by C. Reiss). 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 CCCCXXXVII 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. Roskilde Cathedral is the burial church of the Danish monarchs.

Handling soiling along the right and top edges. 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.