Bilder Bernard de Montfaucon (1655–1741) – Osiris and Isis in Funerary Shrines – Engraving (1719–1724)

Beskrivning

This engraving depicts several ancient Egyptian artifacts titled Osiris avec Isis, illustrating funerary statuary and symbolic shrines. The composition features two main registers: the upper register shows a frontal view of a mummiform figure of Osiris wearing the Atef crown, flanked by a profile view of a standing deity and a shrine containing a line drawing of Isis. The lower register repeats this arrangement with variations, showing a profile figure of a bearded deity standing next to a shrine that depicts Isis holding a lotus-tipped staff. Between these groupings is a representation of a Djed pillar, a symbol of stability associated with Osiris, topped with a solar disc. These artifacts are presented as scientific records of ancient Egyptian theological iconography and funerary material culture, documented with high fidelity to preserve their symbolic form. 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.