Turkish Encampment with Ceremonial Pavilions, Antique Aquatint, 1809

An original antique aquatint with original hand color, 1809, one of the views drawn by Luigi Mayer and published in London by Robert Bowyer. The caption engraved below the image reads "TURKISH ENCAMPMENT."

A Turkish encampment under a wide pale sky. A broad avenue of open ground runs back between two long lines of men in robes and tall caps to a large pavilion with a green roof topped by gilt finials; further pavilions and tents stand to its right, and tall standards are planted at the right of the avenue.

At the left a cannon rests on a red carriage, with piles of cannonballs, two barrels and a horseman beside it, and more tents and troops spread out behind among the trees. A robed official in red walks along the front of the left hand line.

No artist or engraver is named on the plate, and it carries no plate number. The caption is engraved in open capitals below the image, and beneath it a publication line in script gives the publisher Robert Bowyer, his address at 80 Pall Mall, and the date 1809. The plate comes from Views in the Ottoman Dominions, in Europe, in Asia, and some of the Mediterranean Islands, from the original drawings taken for Sir Robert Ainslie, by Luigi Mayer, printed by T. Bensley for R. Bowyer in London in 1810 with 71 hand colored aquatint plates (Abbey, Travel II, 371; Tooley 321). In the book each plate was accompanied by a page of descriptive text in French and English. The plates are unsigned; the aquatint work is probably by William Watts. Luigi Mayer (1755 to 1803) was an Italian born artist who worked in the Ottoman Empire for Sir Robert Ainslie, British ambassador at Constantinople.

Even age toning. Handling soiling along the bottom edge. Foxing over much of the margin. All four corners complete. Minor edge wear, shallow nicks along the top. Several larger brown marks.

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