DESCRIPTION DE L'EGYPTE. Thèbes. Louqsor. Élévation de la façade du Palais. (ANTIQUITES, volume III, planche 6)

Original etching in plano extracted from the 'Imperial Edition' of the 'Description of Egypt or Series observation and research that have been made in Egypt during the expedition of the French army published by order of his majesty and the Emperor Napoleon the Great 'made between 1802 and 1830 and printed in 1000 copies available to institutions. Laid paper with watermark see-through ancient and modern Egypt, protected by winds. View of the facade decorated with scenes of war and submission to the background of two monumental obelisks and four colossal granite that frame the front door (the upper part was destroyed). Excavations were done later to clear the base of the facade and the colossi. Few foxing on the edges do not affect the view itself. Very nice condition. The monumental first edition of the Description of Egypt in 13 volumes contained 892 colored plates of which 72, including 9 volumes involved antiquity. The other volumes dealt with the Natural History and modern Egypt as Napoleon Bonaparte had brought with him a commission of scholars from all disciplines so that, they said, in his description was stored the richest museum of universe. The work was written in part by Baron Dominique Vivant Denon before he became DG of Napoleon in the Louvre Museum. More than 80 artists and 400 writers were hired for this huge project. The dimensions of the exceptionally large boards necessitated the creation of a special press and a specific piece of furniture to keep them ...!