Voyage dans la Basse et Haute Egypte : 1. Entrée de Louqssor. 2. Vue de Louqssor. (Planche 50).<br /><br />

Original print folio, taken from Travels in Upper and Lower Egypt Vivant Denon. Board composed of two views as described by the author: No.1 The entrance of Luxor: what mix of meanness and magnificence! what scale of centuries to Egypt! How large and how simple this single detail! it seemed to me at once the most picturesque scene and the most convincing pieces of comparative history of the times; never my imagination and my eyes were more strongly affected by the sight of this monument. I came several times to dream this up, there to enjoy the past, present, compare our factories to compare the locals, and there cramming volumes of memories and reflections: the Sheikh of the village, addressing me once in this concern, asked me if it were the French or the English, who had raised all that; this note and finished my memoirs. The two obelisks of red granite, still 70 feet off the ground: judging by burying figures, there must be 30 feet covered, which would give 100 to these monuments; conservation is perfect; edge and tapered is a purity can say unheard; hieroglyphics, deep and raised in the background, is a free key and a precious finish: how to temper tools like a sculpture on this matter! that time for work! which machines to take such enormous blocks of the quarry, to transport, to pit! any facts, they coûteroient millions to change their places. The two giants of the same granite are degraded, but the preserved parts announce that they were completed in the most careful way: there may be noted that the use of ear piercing was known to Egypt; those in these figures have the impression. The two large moles which formed the door are covered with sculptures representing fights with trolleys lines, mounted two horses and one driver. All the rest of what we see in the print are modern factories. Between the two piers is the modern village gate, and behind that door the main houses, surmounted by dovecotes. No. 2 View of Luxor, taking over the river, from northwest to southeast; the opposite view part 2, plate XLIX, right, to the point that form the Nile, the small port; in the second plane, the left bank of the river; at the bottom of the plain we perceive Medinet Habu, and Libyan chain. Light foxing, otherwise good condition. Published for the first time in two volumes, an atlas of engravings, Didot, in 1802, the 'Journey to the Lower and Upper Egypt proved so successful that it was translated in 1803 into English and German, and a few years later in Dutch and Italian, among others. Almost all boards are designed by Denon, who also engraved himself a few, including portraits of the inhabitants of Egypt, who still kept the freshness of sketches taken on the spot (our 104-111 ). Two dozen writers have also collaborated on the creation of which Baltard, Galen, Reville and other etchings. Dominique Vivant, Baron Denon says Vivant Denon, born in Givry January 4, 1747 and died in Paris April 27, 1825, is a writer, author, diplomat and French administrator. At the invitation of Bonaparte, he joined the expedition to Egypt in shipping from May 14, 1798 on the frigate "La Juno." Protected by French troops, he had the opportunity to travel the country in all directions in order to gather the material that was the basis for his artistic work and the most important literary. It supports in particular General Desaix in Upper Egypt, which he refers to numerous sketches, ink wash and other drawings in pen, black chalk, or chalk. He draws constantly, usually on his knee, standing or on horseback, and sometimes even under enemy fire. After a journey of 13 months during which he draws thousands of drawings, Vivant Denon returned to France with Bonaparte, and became the first artist to publish the story of the expedition. The 141 boards that accompany his diary retrace its entire journey from the coast of Corsica to the pharaonic monuments of Upper Egypt. Bonaparte then appointed Director General of the Central Museum of the Republic, which became the Napoleon Museum and the Royal Louvre and arts administrator. In 1805, Vivant Denon revival project of the Vendome column, which had been suspended in 1803 then organizes expeditions across Europe to raise imperial works of art which are plundered to be carried away to the Louvre. In 1814, Louis XVIII confirmed as head of the Louvre, one wing of which still bears his name today. It is considered a great precursor of museology, art history and Egyptology.