Bilder Bernard de Montfaucon (1655–1741) – View of a Sacrifice to the Sea Gods – Engraving (1719–1724)

Beskrivning

"SACRIFICE AUX DIEUX MARINS." This engraving illustrates a ritual scene based on the reliefs from the Column of Trajan, featuring a large assembly of Roman figures performing a sacrifice at an altar near the water's edge, with a ship's prow and military standards visible in the background. The technical nature is a copper engraving. It was published in the monumental series L’antiquité expliquée et représentée en figures, printed in Paris by Florentin Delaulne. This work is significant for its role in the early development of archeology, providing a systematic visual encyclopedia of the customs, rituals, and daily life of the ancient Greeks and Romans through a rigorous study of surviving classical monuments.

Bernard de Montfaucon was a French Benedictine monk and a leading scholar of the Maurist congregation who is widely considered the founder of the modern science of archeology. Based in Paris, he devoted his life to the study of ancient texts and artifacts, revolutionizing the field through his comparative method and emphasis on visual evidence. His primary contribution was the publication of multi-volume encyclopedias that documented thousands of classical artworks and inscriptions, making them accessible to European scholars for the first time. Montfaucon’s meticulous research set the standard for historical and paleographical studies throughout the eighteenth century.

Artist or Maker: Bernard de Montfaucon.

Dimensions: Approximately 42 cm x 53 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.