Bilder Bernard de Montfaucon (1655–1741) – Various Sacrificial Processions – Engraving (1719)

Beskrivning

This illustration presents a comprehensive study of ancient ritual processions under the heading Sacrifices. The plate features five horizontal registers or friezes depicting a wide array of figures engaged in ceremonial activities, including musicians playing pipes, attendants leading garlanded bulls and sheep for sacrifice, and soldiers carrying large oval shields. The scenes include ritual banquets, figures pouring libations at altars, and a bacchanalian procession with figures carrying baskets of fruit and musical instruments. This work is part of the monumental publication L'antiquité expliquée et représentée en figures, a ten-volume visual encyclopedia designed to document the physical remains, religious customs, and daily life of the ancient world through systematic classification.

Bernard de Montfaucon was a French Benedictine monk and a pioneering scholar in the fields of archaeology and paleography. He is best known for his massive project, L'antiquité expliquée, which organized thousands of ancient artifacts into a comprehensive visual record for a European audience. Montfaucon’s methodology of using high-quality engravings based on direct observation of objects in various royal and private cabinets established a new standard for scientific research. His work bridges the gap between traditional classical studies and modern archaeological practice, and his extensive corpus of knowledge remained a primary reference for historians and artists throughout the eighteenth 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.