Jean-Louis
Delignon (aka Jean
Louis de Lignon) (1755–c1804)
“Vue de Sphinx”, c1799, after the intermediary
design by Louis-François Cassas (1756–1827)
(see
BnF https://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb16867019q),
an impression before lettering with title and publication details possibly as illustration
to Louis-François Cassas’ “Voyage pittoresque de la Syrie, de la Phoenicie, de
la Palestine et de la Basse Égypte” (Picturesque journey through Syria,
Phoenicia, Palaestine and Lower Egypt), 1799, published by the Imprimerie de
la République/Dugour et Durand in Paris.
Regarding Louis-François Cassas’ publication,
I understand that it consists of three volumes containing about three hundred
and thirty plates (see the description of another etching from the same
publication held by the Museum of Fine Arts Boston: https://collections.mfa.org/objects/629650/plate-from-voyage-pittoresque-de-la-syrie-de-la-phoenicie?ctx=b23cc01f-69fd-469a-95a7-476f1997fe58&idx=45).
The description of the publication by the auction house, Piasa, showcased a single
volume divided into three parts separated by white pages, featuring (in transl.)
“…a total of 180 plates drawn by Cassas and etched by Berthault, Duparc,
Legrand, Malapeau, Picquenot, Racine, Tilliard,… including 3 double pages and
24 foldouts” (see https://www.piasa.fr/en/products/louis-fran-ois-c-a-s-s-a-s-voyage-pittoresque-de-la-syrie-de-la-phoenicie-de-la-palestine-et-de-la-basse-gypte_1516626284_5a65e16cba82a).
Engraving with etching on chine collé on wove
paper trimmed with small margins and backed with a support sheet.
Size: (support sheet) 35.9 x 43.8 cm; (sheet)
21.5 x 29.5 cm; (plate) 19.5 x 27.4 cm; (chine collé) 18 x 26.8 cm; (image
borderline) 14 x 22.6 cm.
Inscribed in plate below the image borderline:
(left) “Cassas.”
Lifetime impression before lettering with
title and publication details.
IFF145 (see BnF https://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb44546711r)
Condition: a strong impression with small
margins laid upon a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. There
are handling marks around the image and a minor mark in the sky, otherwise the
sheet is in a good condition with no tears, holes, folds, significant stains or
foxing.
I am selling this historically important
engraving showing the famous Sphinx in an early state of restoration—note the
trench behind the head—around the time that Napoleon's troops purportedly (but now
believe to be an incorrect allegation) shot off the statue's nose with a cannon,
for AU$244 (currently US$168.25/EUR160.19/GBP137.95 at the time of posting this
print) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of
course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries.
If you are interested in purchasing this rare
engraving—note that I have been unable to find a copy of it in any of the major
museum collections—please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I
will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.
This print has been sold
