DESCRIPTION DE L'EGYPTE. Thèbes. Karnak. Vue et perspective intérieure du palais, prise de l'Est. (ANTIQUITES, volume III, planche 42)

Original etching in plano extracted from the'' Imperial Edition 'of the Description of Egypt or Collection of Observations and Research made in Egypt during the French expedition, published by order of His Majesty the Emperor Napoleon the Great. Conducted between 1802 and 1830, she was taken in 1000 copies available to institutions. Laid paper with watermark visible by transparency ancient and modern Egypt, protected by winds. Several marginal tears, one with missing in the top margin, otherwise good freshness and preservation. The monumental first edition of the Description of Egypt in 13 volumes contained 892 colored plates of which 72, including 9 volumes involved antiquity. 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 it was said, in his description was stored the richest museum of universe. This book was written in part by Baron Dominique Vivant Denon before he is appointed Managing Director of the Louvre Museum Napoleon. More than 80 artists and 400 writers were hired for this huge project. The unusually large size boards necessitated the creation of a special press and a specific piece of furniture to keep them ...!