Dominique Vivant Denon (French, 1747-1825). 79 original engravings from "Description de l'Egypte" (1802-1822) commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon Bonaparte appointed Baron Dominique Vivant Denon to lead a group of experts - more than 150 engineers, scientists, cartographers, surveyors, architects, linguists, forming a Commission des Sciences et Arts d'Egypte - to study and record their observations during their expedition to Egypt in 1798. Denon's sketches of Luxor, Karnac, Dendera, Thebes, Esna, Edfu, and Philae inspired Napoleon to send two teams to complete the project. The work was published in "Description de l'Egypte" (1802-1822); however, Denon preempted this by returning to France and featuring a group of his plates in an earlier book "Voyage dans la Basse et la Haute Egypte" published in Paris in 1802 as well as an English edition in London in 1803. Size: sheets measure 26.75" L x 20.5" W (67.9 cm x 52.1 cm); several bifold plates as well

More about Dominique Vivant Denon, a pioneer of Egyptology: "Denon was the first artist to discover and draw the temples and ruins at Thebes, Esna, Edfu, and Philae. Until that time, most of the known Egyptian antiquities were pyramids and scattered pieces of sculptures and stelae. It was when the brigade reached Dendera, just across from Qena, that Denon realized what might be in store. He came through the gate and got a view of the portico, and was enthralled. 'I felt that I was in the sanctuary of the arts and sciences?Never did the labour of man show me the human race in such a splendid point of view. In the ruins of Tentyra [the Roman word for Dendera] the Egyptians appeared to me giants.'" (Source: "Napoleion and the Scientific Expedition to Egypt" Linda Hall Library website)

Provenance: ex-Royal Athena Galleries, New York City, New York, USA

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#175841

Lot includes title page, frontispiece, list of artists, and plates 1-16, 18-21, 23-68, 70-77, 79-83. Normal age wear with slight toning, some stains, and tape securing some tears; however, plates are in overall good antique condition with vivid imagery.