Bilder Bernard de Montfaucon (1655–1741) – Various Caskets and Censers – Engraving (1719)

Beskrivning

This illustration presents a selection of liturgical and decorative objects, including incense boxes known as acerrae and various types of censers or thuribles. The plate details several ornate containers with hinged lids and decorative feet, alongside long-handled spoons and ritual implements used in classical or religious ceremonies. Each item is meticulously rendered to showcase the craftsmanship and metallic textures of the time, with small labels indicating the collections from which the specimens were documented. This work is part of the monumental publication L'antiquité expliquée et représentée en figures, which served as a massive visual encyclopedia intended to illustrate the daily life, customs, and religious practices of the ancient world through its surviving physical remains.

Bernard de Montfaucon was a French Benedictine monk and scholar who is widely regarded as one of the founders of the modern fields of archaeology and paleography. His most significant contribution, L'antiquité expliquée, was a groundbreaking ten-volume project that organized thousands of ancient artifacts into a systematic visual record, making the study of the past accessible to a broad European audience. Montfaucon’s rigorous approach to documenting historical objects based on direct observation and high-quality engravings established a new standard for scientific and historical research. His extensive travels and research within the Maurist congregation allowed him to compile an unprecedented corpus of knowledge that influenced the development of classical studies for more than a century.

Artist or Maker: Bernard de Montfaucon.

Dimensions: Approximately 42 cm x 27 cm.

Medium: Engraving.

Date: 1719.

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.