Sculptures of the Elephanta Caves at Stations 1 to 3, Antique Print, 1780

This is an original antique copper engraving from 1780, a wide folding plate of the sculpture in the cave temple on Elephanta. The caption runs in one line: Afbeelding der Figuuren in de Pagode by 1.2.3. op den Platten grond Pl. III. in Dutch and Réprésentation des Figures dans le Pagode Prés de 1.2.3. sur le Plan Pl. III. in French, meaning "Representation of the figures in the pagoda at 1, 2, 3 on the ground plan, plate III".

The plate is divided into three panels. The broad center panel is filled by a colossal bust with three heads under tall, richly carved headdresses: one face looks straight out, the other two are turned in profile to left and right. Heavy earrings and layered necklaces hang below, and the hands are raised in front, the one at the left holding a serpent. The carving is shown against a dark, finely hatched rock surface. The two narrower side panels each hold a standing figure in a tall headdress. On the left the figure stands beside a small seated figure with curled hair, seen at the lower left; on the right the figure leans an arm on a small attendant figure at its side. The numbers in the caption refer to the numbered positions on the ground plan of the cave temple at Elephanta, engraved as plate III (Tab. III) of the same volume.

The plate is signed "Philips Jz fc" below the lower left corner of the border, and lettered "Tab. V." at the upper right.

This sheet belongs to the second volume of Carsten Niebuhr's Voyage en Arabie & en d'autres Pays circonvoisins, issued at Amsterdam by S. J. Baalde and at Utrecht by Barthelemy Wild, with MDCCLXXX on its title page. Niebuhr (1733 to 1815) was a German born surveyor in Danish service and the only member of the Danish expedition to Arabia (1761 to 1767), sent by King Frederick V of Denmark, to return alive. The account was first published in German at Copenhagen; this is the French translation printed in Amsterdam and Utrecht.

Light uneven toning, browner toward the edges. Marked handling soiling along all four edges. Scattered light foxing in the margin. Small light flecks in the printed area. Folding plate, original folds as issued.

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