Bilder Bernard de Montfaucon (1655–1741) – Illustrations of Ancient Roman Sepulchral Monuments – Engraving (1719–1724)

Beskrivning

"Pierres et Urnes Sepulcrales" illustrates two distinct types of Roman funerary monuments featuring classical portraiture and inscriptions. The upper portion of the composition depicts a large, rectangular block monument with a recessed niche containing the relief portraits of a man and a woman in profile. This monument bears a Latin inscription and is shown alongside smaller votive or ritual objects. The lower portion features a smaller, upright altar-like tomb adorned with a relief of a seated female figure and its own dedicated inscription. This copper engraving was published in Paris as part of the monumental work L'Antiquité expliquée et représentée en figures, a comprehensive visual encyclopedia of the ancient world. The series is recognized as a foundational achievement in the development of modern archaeology and art history.

Bernard de Montfaucon was a French Benedictine monk and a pioneering scholar of the Congregation of Saint Maur. He is widely considered the founder of the discipline of palaeography and one of the fathers of modern archaeology due to his systematic study of ancient monuments and texts. His most significant contribution, L'Antiquité expliquée, compiled thousands of images of ancient artifacts, buildings, and customs, making the physical remains of Greece and Rome accessible to Enlightenment Europe. Montfaucon's rigorous methodological approach to primary sources and visual evidence transformed the study of history into a more scientific and evidence-based field.

Artist or Maker: Bernard de Montfaucon.

Dimensions: Approximately 42 cm x 27 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.