Voyage dans la Basse et Haute Egypte : 1. Temple d'Appolinopolis magna à Etfu. 2. Situation d'Etfu et de son temple. (Planche 58).<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 View Apollinopolis magna Etfu taken from west to east of the temple on hills that dominate, and where we see everything both its external development and some parts of its interior. I made a trip of more than fifty leagues in the thought of adding this drawing to your collection, to make known to complete this magnificent building; and yet arrived at Etfu I was at the time to leave without being able to draw it, by the inability to withstand the heat of the sun that it was necessary that I should be exposed to this view. I have the intelligence of Baltard citizen for making the imperfect sketch, I had done as I had been tormented by my eyes glare éprouvoient liveliness of the day, and those in my blood Boiling occasioned me every moment: this print is one of many obligations that I have at Baltard citizen, who is on loan to the execution of my work with accuracy, a zeal and friendship, which equaled the talent that it was so easy to put it. In the development of this great monument we can see right into the front door; between two large stones advancing two piers on the doorframe, which were coming against arguably support the heads of two statues in the shape of caryatids; the four long niches before which had to be obelisks, as I'm allowed to think by repeating the same niches behind obelisks that I found to Philée; on the walls of moles three orders of hieroglyphics, becoming ever more gigantic, and ending up having twenty-five feet of proportion; courtyard decorated with a gallery of columns, with two terraces, leading to two doors through which we reach the stairs going up to the platforms of moles; in the courtyard modern buildings, which are part of the village of Etfu which we perceive the other party beyond the temple; from under the porch which I made the drawing, pl. LVII, No. 1; following probably contains different apartments, and the sanctuary of the temple buried, and now cluttered with garbage, except for a few gaps that serve as store built on the platform of the temple houses; the leveling a wall of circumvallation, decorated inside as outside countless hieroglyphics, executed with a sought care; while the left side of the print Arab tombs encountered on the road to Etfu NSHS; the Nile in the third level, and in the background the Arabian chain; on the front of the mound of rubble, under which are the remains of the ancient city of Apollinopolis; and the group of figures, the frugal meal of an Arab family. No.2 view of the situation of the temple of Apollinopolis magna taken several leagues; This temple, built on a hill in the middle of the valley, looks like a fortress, well placed to control the country. Marginal foxing, marginal tear skilfully restored with a piece of Filmoplast, 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.