Voyage dans la Basse et Haute Egypte : Zodiaque du plafond du portique de Tentyris. (Planche 132).<br /><br />

Original print folio untrimmed extracted Travellers in Lower and Upper Egypt Vivant Denon. Folding plate decorated with an engraving divided into two figures, as described by the author: Both sides of the zodiac on the two most opposite of the ceiling of the portico of the temple of Tentyra beds (see map, plate XL , No. 8): the two great figures appear to be those enveloping the year. The winged sign that is in front of their mouth is that of eternity or the passage of the sun at the solstices: the disc is at the juncture of the thighs in Figure 1, the Sun, where he leaves a beam of light falling on a head of Isis, which represents or earth or the moon; sun, placed the sign of cancer, can be used to time the erection of the temple: the accompanying signs, the fixed stars; those in boats, moving stars, the planets, and comets. More objects in these tables are, the more they appear to me to be left to the scientists to whom they belong; my comments should apply particularly in small isolated objects, which localities, reconciliations, circumstances, give interest, which details my observations can sometimes give existence. These large flower beds are sculpted and painted; characters in natural colors on a strewn with yellow stars blue background: I have marked as those in relief, the other being in any number, and having gone mostly by degradation. Registration is accurate; I marked by small strokes where the degradation does not allow me to distinguish the figures; a large piece of stone that fell took away several of the second strip. Some foxing mainly marginal, two clever old restores using pieces of a similar paper on the back, 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.