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an old drawing of a group of men standing in front of a buildingan old drawing of a man and a dog in front of a pile of barrelsan old picture of two pictures of a man and a woman in front of a fireplacean old drawing of a stone structure in front of a brick walldrawing of a man and a woman standing in front of a hole in a stone wallan old drawing of a man and a woman standing in front of a stone wallan image of a painting of egyptian men and women in front of a wallan image of a painting of two men and a donkeya painting of a group of egyptian women in white dressesan old print of a man laying on a bed next to another mana picture of a picture of a building with columns
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86 - [ARCHAEOLOGY. ENGRAVING]
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Estimate €400 - €600
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Description
[ARCHAEOLOGY. ENGRAVING] A set of 11 etchings and lithographs on Egypt. A fine set of 11 engravings, comprising 9 watercolour etchings and 2 lithographs, devoted mainly to Egyptian archaeological discoveries and architecture (Giovanni Battista Belzoni, Ippolito Rosellini, David Roberts).    Giovanni Belzoni (1778–1823) was an Egyptologist of Italian origin. After a tumultuous youth marked by the Franco-Italian wars and a career in the circus, nothing suggested he would be hired by the British government to carry out archaeological excavations and repatriate artefacts to the British Museum. Amidst the rivalry between the major European powers, Belzoni played a part in the discovery of several major temples. These discoveries were published during the 1820s in London in a number of works, including *Narrative of the Operations and Recent Discoveries within the Pyramids*, *Temples, Tombs and Excavations in Egypt and Nubia*, and *Plates Illustrative of the Research and Operations of G. Belzoni in Egypt and Nubia* (1820).    -1/ Forced passage in the second pyramid of Giza / Great chamber in the second pyramid of Giza, (60.9 x 48.5 cm), by A. Aglio after a drawing by G. Belzoni, Plates 11 and 12, watercolour etching, paper damaged on the left-hand side (abrupt cut) which does not affect the illustration, micro-tear on the right-hand side of the sheet, repaired with 2.3 cm of adhesive tape on the front at the top.    -2/ View of the interior of the Temple of Karnak, (28.7 × 36.9 cm), Aglio (engraver), after a drawing by Belzoni, Plate 31, watercolour etching, foxing, mounted with adhesive tape on the front, 1.2 cm at the top.    -3/ Colossal head discovered in the ruins of Karnak by G. Belzoni, (29 × 38.6 cm), Plate 28, etching with watercolour, mounted with adhesive tape on the front, 0.8 mm at the top.    -4/ Entrance to the second pyramid at Giza: discovered and opened by G. Belzoni, 2 March 1818, (28.7 × 41.3 cm), Belzoni (del.), Plate 9, mounted with 0.3 cm of adhesive tape at the top of the front. -5/ First passage into the second pyramid of Giza discovered by G. Belzoni in 1818. (29 x 38.8 cm), Plate 11, slight soiling, mounted with adhesive tape at the top. -6/ Ruins of a wall near the Temple at Offedina, Nubia, (25.9 x 37.8 cm), Plate 29, engraved by Aglio after a drawing by Belzoni, slight soiling, mounted with adhesive tape at the top over a length of 0.5 cm.    Ippolito Rosellini (1800–1843) was a 19th-century Italian Egyptologist known for having been Champollion’s pupil and friend. Eager to share his discoveries, he published *I monumenti dell’Egitto e della Nubia* in 1832, considered a seminal work on 19th-century Egyptology. In it, the author brings together hundreds of colour plates offering an overview of Egyptian art and culture. -7/ The King consecrates a gate to Phre, (29.5 x 41.9 cm), Plate XXXVII, etching with watercolour, trimmed within the plate’s border, slight soiling, mounted with adhesive tape at the top over 0.3 cm with slight traces of glue.    -8/ Untitled – Two Egyptians and a donkey, Plate 264, (24 x 42.8), etching with watercolour, trimmed within the plate, paper very slightly damaged along the lower edge, mounted with adhesive tape at the sides with slight traces of glue, foxing and soiling.    -9/ Untitled – Procession, (20.2 x 43.9 cm), Plate CXXVIII, etching with watercolour, trimmed inside the plate, foxing and soiling, mounted with adhesive tape at the top over 0.5 cm.    David Roberts (1796–1864) was a Scottish Orientalist painter who made his name with his genre scenes. A member of the Royal Academy, he is known for his numerous journeys to Egypt, during which he produced hundreds of drawings. These were lithographed in two major works: *Egypt and Nubia* (1846–49) and *The Holy Land, Nubia, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt and Nubia* (1842–1849).    -10/ Dayr el Medeeneh – Thebes, L. Hague (lith.), (32.2 x 42 cm), two-tone lithograph, slight soiling, adhesive mounting at the top on the reverse.    -11/ Part of the Hall of Columns at Karnak-Thebes, L. Hague (lith.), 1847, (38.7 x 28.7 cm), two-tone lithograph, adhesive mounting at the top of the front, 2 cm wide. Provenance: Christian Levett Collection, Musée d’Art Classique de Mougins.
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About the sale Books, Manuscripts & Antique Engravings, including the José Luis Dotti Library
Auction location
Auction time 09/23/2026 at 2:30 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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