Classical Antiquities Engraving, Sepulchrum des Nasonii, Montfaucon 1721
This original early eighteenth-century copper engraving presents a scholarly compilation of classical antiquities drawn from ancient Roman artworks, engraved gems, and sculptural sources. The plate originates from Bernard de Montfaucon’s influential publication *L’Antiquité expliquée et représentée en figures*, published in Paris in 1721, one of the most important antiquarian works of the Enlightenment and a cornerstone in the development of archaeology and classical art history.
The composition assembles multiple mythological and archaeological subjects arranged in a structured, comparative format typical of Montfaucon’s method. At the center appears a detailed scene labeled “Sepulchrum des Nasonii,” referring to the celebrated Tomb of the Nasonii located along the Via Flaminia in Rome, an important Roman funerary monument known for its painted mythological decorations. The engraving records figures, animals, and pastoral imagery derived from ancient wall paintings, offering eighteenth-century scholars and collectors access to monuments that were otherwise difficult to study directly.
Surrounding vignettes reproduce imagery taken from antique cameos, engraved gems, and sculptural fragments. Oval compositions depict mythological figures and allegorical scenes, while the lower section includes a classical statue and medallion studies attributed to antiquarian sources associated with collectors and scholars such as Maffei and Vaillant. These references reflect Montfaucon’s ambition to synthesize knowledge gathered from Europe’s major antiquities collections into a single visual encyclopedia.
Executed with refined precision, the engraving demonstrates the clarity and balance characteristic of Parisian copperplate engraving of the early 1700s. Fine linework and careful tonal shading translate sculptural and painted sources into a harmonious graphic composition. Today, plates from Montfaucon’s work are appreciated both for their scholarly significance and for their elegant decorative qualities, making them highly suitable for libraries, study interiors, or contemporary gallery walls seeking classical visual depth.
This original antique engraving is offered unframed, allowing flexibility to select a frame that best complements the intended interior.
Condition: Good antique condition with age-related toning and light discoloration consistent with early eighteenth-century paper. Minor edge wear and handling marks mainly confined to the margins. Plate impression visible. Blank verso.
Framing tips: A dark walnut, gilt, or ebonized frame with a generous ivory mat enhances the academic and neoclassical character of the engraving. For modern interiors, a slim black gallery frame with wide mat spacing provides a refined museum-style presentation.
Technique: Copper engraving
Maker: Bernard de Montfaucon, France, Paris, 1721
Keywords: Montfaucon engraving, Antiquité expliquée, Sepulchrum des Nasonii, Roman antiquities print, classical archaeology engraving, antique mythological engraving, 18th century copperplate engraving, French antiquarian print, Roman tomb illustration, Via Flaminia Rome print...
Category
1720s British Antique Engraved Furniture
