Denon - Dominique Vivant Denon (1747–1825) – Original Copper Engraving – Ruins of the Temple of Hermopolis &

Rare original engraved plate from the first Italian edition of the celebrated Viaggio nel Basso ed Alto Egitto illustrato dietro alle tracce e ai disegni del Sig. Denon, published in Florence by Giuseppe Tofani in 1808.

This important work is the first Italian edition of Dominique Vivant Denon’s famous account of his travels in Egypt, associated with Napoleon Bonaparte’s Egyptian expedition. The Italian edition was illustrated with a remarkable series of engraved plates based on the drawings and observations made by Denon in Egypt.

The present large folio sheet contains two finely engraved archaeological views together with architectural details.

The upper composition bears the title:

“ROVINE DEL TEMPIO D’ERMOPOLI”
(Ruins of the Temple of Hermopolis)

It depicts the monumental remains of an ancient Egyptian temple, with massive columns still supporting part of the entablature. Small human and animal figures in the foreground emphasize the impressive scale of the surviving architecture. Below the view are additional small architectural details.

The lower composition is entitled:

“SEPOLCRO EGIZIANO A LICOPOLI”
(Egyptian Tomb at Lycopolis)

and shows the entrance to an ancient Egyptian rock-cut tomb surrounded by fallen masonry and archaeological remains. Beneath the view appears a small architectural ground plan bearing the inscription:

“PIANTA DEL SEPOLCRO”
(Plan of the Tomb).

The engraving is signed in the plate “Denon inv.”, identifying Dominique Vivant Denon as the inventor/designer, and “Gius. Pera inc.”, identifying Giuseppe Pera as the engraver.

Details

Artist / Designer: Dominique Vivant Denon (1747–1825)
Engraver: Giuseppe Pera
Subjects: Rovine del Tempio d’Ermopoli / Sepolcro Egiziano a Licopoli / Pianta del Sepolcro
Work: Viaggio nel Basso ed Alto Egitto
Publisher: Giuseppe Tofani
Place of publication: Florence, Italy
Date: 1808
Technique: Copper engraving
Period: Early 19th century / Napoleonic era
Sheet dimensions: approx. 38 × 48 cm
Subject: Ancient Egypt – Hermopolis – Lycopolis – Egyptian architecture and archaeology
Sheet: Large untrimmed sheet with wide margins

Condition

Overall fair condition considering the age of more than 200 years.

The sheet retains its wide margins and shows clear signs of age and use, including foxing, scattered stains, surface dirt, paper waviness and creasing.

There is more pronounced brown staining and evidence of old moisture exposure in the lower portion of the sheet, particularly beneath and around the lower composition. The outer margins show irregularities, folds and wear, with small tears and losses along the edges, especially visible along the left and upper margins.

These imperfections are consistent with the considerable age and history of the sheet and have deliberately not been concealed.

Importantly, both engraved compositions remain complete, strong and clearly legible, with good preservation of the architectural details and fine engraved lines.

Please examine the photographs carefully, as they form an integral part of the condition description.

Historical Note

Dominique Vivant Denon accompanied the French expedition to Egypt and recorded numerous monuments, temples, tombs, landscapes and archaeological sites through drawings made during his travels.

His Voyage dans la Basse et la Haute Égypte, originally published in France at the beginning of the 19th century, played an important role in introducing ancient Egyptian monuments to a broad European audience and contributed significantly to the extraordinary development of European interest in Egypt during the Napoleonic period.

The Florence edition published by Giuseppe Tofani in 1808 represents the first Italian edition of Denon’s celebrated work and is an important example of early nineteenth-century Italian publishing and printmaking connected with the European rediscovery of ancient Egypt.

Original individual plates from this edition are today collected both for their historical and archaeological significance and for their decorative appeal, particularly by collectors interested in Egyptology, archaeology, antique travel books and the Napoleonic era.