Bilder Bernard de Montfaucon (1655–1741) – Gnostic Gems and Serpent Amulets – Engraving (1719–1724)

Beskrivning

This engraving depicts a collection of twelve ancient Gnostic gems and amulets, categorized under the title Abraxas. The composition is organized into three vertical columns, each featuring oval amulets with mystical symbols and hybrid creatures. Several gems illustrate the Chnoubis, a leonine-headed serpent with a radiant solar halo, a common protective motif in Greco-Egyptian magic. Other ovals contain complex Gnostic inscriptions in Greek characters and esoteric signs intended for spiritual protection and divine invocation. These artifacts are presented as scientific records of esoteric religious practices from late antiquity, emphasizing the symbolic iconography and epigraphy used by diverse mystical sects. This illustration was published as a technical plate for L'antiquité expliquée et représentée en figures, a monumental work aimed at documenting the material culture and customs of the ancient world through visual evidence.

Bernard de Montfaucon was a French Benedictine monk and a pioneering scholar who is widely considered one of the founders of modern archaeology and paleography. His most famous contribution, the multi-volume L'antiquité expliquée, was an exhaustive effort to categorize ancient civilizations using thousands of engraved plates, effectively creating the first pictorial encyclopedia of the classical world. Montfaucon’s work was revolutionary in its use of visual documentation as a primary historical source, influencing generations of historians and art collectors. His dedication to systematic research and the preservation of historical artifacts through illustration helped bridge the gap between early antiquarianism and scientific archaeological study.

Artist or Maker: Bernard de Montfaucon .

Dimensions: Approximately 42 cm x 25 cm.

Medium: Engraving .

Date: 1719–1724

Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.