Art

A copper engraving depicting a fanciful view of an imagined ceremony in an ancient Egyptian temple. Louis-François Cassas was one of the best French printmakers of the eighteenth century. His Voyage Pittoresque de la Syrie, de la Phoenicie, de la Palestine, et de la Basse-Egypte is perhaps the finest 18th-century illustrated book on the Middle East. Cassas accompanied Choiseul-Gouffier on his embassy to Istanbul in 1784 but remained there only a few weeks. From the end of 1784 to 1787 he travelled in the Levant, Syria and Egypt at Choiseul-Gouffier's expense, making more than 300 drawings. His drawings of Troad were engraved for volume II of Choiseul-Gouffier's 'Voyage Pittoresque'. His original drawings remained in family hands for many years, but were sold at auction in 1878. The drawings include studies of costumes, architectural pieces, monuments, views, scenes from daily life and animals. He was the greatest exponent of the Levant. This superb print is from the first edition, published in parts on large sheets. Engraved by Ransonette/Benoits. Copper engraving. Uncoloured. Size: 26 x 45 cm. (10 x 17½ inches).