The Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem, Antique Interior View of the Rotunda, circa 1850

The rotunda of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, an original antique steel engraving, uncolored, circa 1850, in upright format. The caption reads DAS HEILIGE GRAB (Jerusalem), the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem.

The upright plate looks across the rotunda to the marble edicule over the tomb, a rectangular shrine with paneled sides, a balustrade and a small domed crown. Above it rises the great ribbed dome of the church with its ring of arched windows, and a large curtain or awning is stretched across the space at the left. Tall candlesticks stand before the shrine. Pilgrims kneel and pray on the pavement, and a group of richly dressed men with a processional staff stands at the right.

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 CIV is engraved at the top right of the image. No artist or engraver is named on the sheet.

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. The edicule shown is the one rebuilt after the fire of 1808 damaged the church.

Handling soiling along the 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. One larger brown mark.

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