ECOLE CHINOISE DU XVIIIe Siècle

Lot 7
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Estimation :
40000 - 60000 EUR
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Result : 45 500EUR
ECOLE CHINOISE DU XVIIIe Siècle
Rare album comprising 26 gouaches on vellum representing biblical and historical scenes, with a silver embossed border decorated with geometrical motifs. The cover and spine are in wood, covered with a yellow silk fabric decorated with swastika and rocks among the waves. Dimensions of the album: Height: 42; Width: 30 cm. Dimensions of the gouaches: Height: 33; Width: 20,8 cm. RELATED WORKS An album with similar borders was sold on June 29, 1990 at Néret-Minet & Coutau-Bégarie, lot 66. Based on European engravings, including engravings by Matthäus Merian (1593 - 1650), an illustrious Swiss engraver best known for his series Topografi a Germaniae. The series Icones Biblicae, 1625 - 1630, from which these few engravings were taken, was used to illustrate a bible translated into German by Martin Luther (1483 - 1546) in 1545, commonly known as "Merian's bible". Merian also made a map of China in 1636, entitled "China Veteribus Sinarum Regio numc Incolis Tame dicta". This album was most likely given to the emperor of China in the 18th century. The original engravings by Matthäus Merian are kept in the British Museum. Antonin Heliogabalus preparing to steal the Palladium. Aelius Lampridius, History of Augustus, IVth century, VIth of Antoninus Heliogabalus (218 - 222): "Antoninus was unanimously proclaimed emperor, and, as it is in the nature of men to be easily led to believe in the truth of what they desire, all hearts believed in his virtues. But as soon as he had made his entry in Rome, without occupying himself any more with what occurred in the province, he built and dedicated to Heliogabalus a temple on the Palatine mount near the imperial palace; he aff ected to make transport there and the statue of Juno, and the fire of Vesta, and the Palladium, and the shields anciles, enfi n all the objects of the veneration of the Romans; so that in Rome one adored no other god than Heliogabalus. He also said that the religions of the Jews and the Samaritans, as well as the cult of Christ, would be transported to this place, so that the mysteries of all beliefs would be united in the priesthood of Heliogabalus.
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