The Temple of Neptune at Paestum, Antique View of the Greek Ruins, circa 1850

This is a view inside the Temple of Neptune at Paestum, an original antique steel engraving, uncolored, circa 1850. The caption reads Der NEPTUN-TEMPEL in Paestum., German for the Temple of Neptune at Paestum.

The plate looks along the length of the temple between ranks of heavy fluted Doric columns, their capitals and architraves catching the light against a pale sky. Massive squared blocks of the walls stand at either side, and the far colonnade closes the view at the center. A single figure sits on the blocks at the left, and a fallen stone lies on the ground in the foreground.

No artist or engraver is named under the image. Below the caption the plate carries the house imprint, Aus d. Kunstanst. d. Bibl. Inst. in Hildbh. at the lower left and Eigenthum d. Verleger. at the lower right. The first is the art works of the Bibliographisches Institut in Hildburghausen, the second reads "property of the publishers." The plate number DLXVII is engraved at the top right.

The sheet comes from a dealer's album rather than from a bound set. Its 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 building long called the Temple of Neptune is one of the Greek Doric temples of Paestum, south of Salerno.

Handling soiling along the bottom edge. 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.