Mayer, Luigi "Ruins in the Castle of Cairo, Near Joseph’s Hall" [Egypt]

Luigi Mayer (1755-1803).  “Ruins in the Castle of Cairo, Near Joseph’s Hall.”  [Egypt].  From Views in Egypt, Palestine, and Other Parts of the Ottoman Empire. 

London: R. Bowyer, 1802-1805.  Approx. 13 x 8 3/4 (image).  Aquatint by T. Milton.  Original hand coloring.  Very good condition.   

From a group of finely crafted and informative views of the Middle East. The original drawings were done by Luigi Mayer for Sir Robert Ainslie, during his embassy to Constantinople, then the capital of the Ottoman Empire. Mayer traveled widely in the region, recording scenes in Palestine, Egypt, and present-day Turkey. He paid great attention to architecture, costume, and landscape. These details are lovingly captured by the engraver and colorist bringing out much of the feel of the earth tones and atmosphere of the region. The richness of the culture, both ancient and contemporary, is vividly and accurately illustrated, providing us with a privileged glimpse of the Middle East before the tremendous changes it was soon to undergo.

Other prints from this series:

Africa:

“Ruins of the Grand Aqueduct of Ancient Carthage”

Egypt:

"An Ancient Obelisk at Matarea, Formerly Heliopolis"

“An Ancient Sarcophagus of Basaltes, Called the Lovers Fountain”

“Bridge Over the Canal of Alexandria”

“Entrance to a Sepulchral Chamber Near the Sphinx”

“Fort & Harbour of Aboukir, Ancient Canopus”

“Gate of Grand Cairo. - Arabian Architecture”

“The Gate of Rosetta in Alexandria”

“Interior View of the Catacombs at Alexandria"

“The Lovers Fountain with the Adjacent Mosque”

“A Mosque With an Antique Fragment in Old Alexandria Near the Gate of Rosetta”

“Part of the New City of Alexandria, with the Light House”

"Pompey's Pillar"

“Ruins of the Gymnasium, Near the Canopic Gate of Alexandria”

“Ruins of the Ptolomean Library”

“Sepulchres of Arabian Saints Near Rosetta”

“Subterranean Chamber Near the Pyramids at Geeza”

“View of the Nilometer"

Greece:

“A Grotto Cut in the Rock Near Lindo, in Rhodes”

“Ruins of an Ancient Temple near Corinth”

Holy Land:

“Entrance to the Sepulchres of the Kings of Judah”

"Fountain of Siloam Near Jerusalem”

“Pillar to which was Affixed the Sentence Passed on our Savior”

“Pool of Bethesda Jerusalem”

“Reservoir of the Sealed Fountain Near Bethlehem”

“Ruins Between Ramah & Jerusalem”

“Sepulchral Chambers Near Bethany”

“The Sepulchre of Absalom.”

“Sepulchres of the Kings of Judah”

“Tomb in the Valley of Jehosophat”

“View of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives”

Turkey:

“Ancient Sepulchre Near Macri”

“An Ancient Theatre at Cacamo”

“The Castle of Boudron in the Gulf of Stancio”

“A Colossal Sarcophagus at Cacamo in Caramania”

“Sarcophagi & Sepulchres at the Head of the Harbour of Cacamo”

“Sepulchral Grots at the Head of the Harbour of Cacamo”