The Calle de Alcala, Madrid, Antique View with the Cibeles Fountain, circa 1850

A view of the Calle de Alcala in Madrid, an original antique steel engraving, uncolored, circa 1850. The caption beneath the image reads DIE ALCALA IN MADRID, in English the Alcala in Madrid.

The broad street runs back from the center between tall buildings toward a domed church in the distance, with church towers at the left. At the right stands a fountain with a seated goddess in a chariot drawn by lions in a round basin, before a large building with a bell turret and balconies. A heavy coach with footmen standing behind it, carts and further carriages fill the roadway at the left and center, a man and woman walk in the foreground, and a group of men sit and recline on the ground at the right.

No artist or engraver is named on the sheet. Below the caption, the imprint at the left reads Aus d. Kunstanst. d. Bibliogr. Inst. in Hildbh. (from the art works of the Bibliographisches Institut in Hildburghausen), and at the right Eigenthum d. Verleger (property of the publishers). The plate number CCCLIIII is engraved at the top right, above the image.

The 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. The fountain is the Cibeles, made in the reign of Charles III.

Marked handling soiling along the bottom, right and top 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.