1719 Montfaucon Print Bridge of Gard Roman Nimes France

Title: Pont du Gard and Pont de Brioude

[The Aqueduct Bridge of Gard and Bridge of Brioude]

Date: 1719

Color: Black and White

Medium: Copperplate Engraving

Dimensions: image (19.5 x 31.9 cm or 7 11/16 x 12 9/16 inch), paper (25.4 x 40 cm or 10 x 15 3/4 inch)

Credits: Bernard de Montfaucon (author); Florentin Delaulne, Paris (publisher), plate 116 of part II Volume IV [Les Chemins publics, les Aqueducs, & la Navigation] of L Antiquite expliquee, et representee en figures (1st edition, Paris 1719)

Condition:

        The print is in excellent condition [i.e., clear & clean image, strong paper and plate mark, original wide margins, no bend, no tear, and  slight but even age toning]. It was printed on high quality hand laid paper with a blank verso. The print is nearly flawless with no apology.

Description:

        Bernard de Montfaucon (1655 1741), a leaned Benedictine Monk of congregation of St. Maur, was regarded by many as one of the founders of Modern Archeology. Among many of his published works, the best known is, perhaps, L Antiquite expliquee, et representee en figures [Antiquity explained, and represented in sculptures (par D Humphrets translation)]. It is a five-volumes ten parts series on ancient Greco-Roman [and others, Egyptian, Germania, Gaul etc] monuments and artifacts that might be of use in the study of the religion, domestic customs, material life, military institutions, and funeral rites. The book, which first published in French in 1719 includes many beautifully engraved plates that meticulously reproduced and represented the ancient life [of chiefly Greek and Rome] in graphic form. Despite its size, it was printed about 1800 copies and sold out within first few months.  An English edition of this work (condensed into five volumes) was published in 1721 (translated by David Humphrets) with many completely re-engraved plates on a slightly larger folio (yet many figures were reduced to 2/3 even ¼ of their original dimensions in order to make composite prints). A second French edition of the original work was published in 1722 with corrections and revisions, which was then followed by a five volumes Supplements (Supplement au livre de L Antiquite expliquee, et representee en figures) first published in 1724. 

       Despite the vast number of plates in two editions and supplements [for L Antiquite expliquee, et representee en figures], it is quite straightforward to distinguish them by sizes [of paper and image], contents [slight variation and new subjects], legends, quality of paper, and most obviously the title pages. The plates from the first French edition of 1719 are slightly more desirable for similar figures among all the editions. Indeed, the paper and the engraving [less wearing of the plate] of the first edition are generally above the subsequent issues in quality.

         This print [plate # 116] of the famous Roman Aqueduct Bridge of Gard near Nimes [France] and the bridge of Brioude [Auvergne, France] was from the first French edition of 1719 in part II of Volume 4 at page 188.  The beautiful single-arched Bridge of Brioude is no longer standing but the Pont du Gard [the largest Aqueduct Bridge] has withstood the test of time. This three-tiered aqueduct-bridge spans 275 meters over the Gardon valley is a prime example of Roman engineering marvel. The building of the bridge was started around 19 BC and completed over a century later during Trajan's reign (AD 98-117). The aqueduct brought water 40 miles from the springs of Fontaine d'Eure at Uzes to Nimes to supply its residents. It was still used as a pedestrian bridge during the 19th century. A very nice collector s item indeed  - please note the low starting price with no reserve. Happy bidding!  
      

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