Ancienne Eglise Bysantines près la tour des vents 1846

This 1846 original lithographic engraving after Théodore Du Moncel depicts an ancient Byzantine church near the Tower of the Winds in Athens. Issued as part of the illustrated publication Athènes monumentale et pittoresque, the print reflects the nineteenth-century European fascination with Greek antiquities and the rediscovery of Byzantine architectural heritage alongside classical remains.

The composition presents the church with careful architectural detail — domes, stone masonry, and decorative arches — set within a quiet archaeological landscape. Figures placed in the foreground add a sense of scale and human presence, reinforcing the documentary intent of the image while maintaining a Romantic atmosphere typical of travel illustrations of the period. The lithograph was executed by Théodore Du Moncel and figured by A. Bayot, both known for their contributions to illustrated topographical works.

Published in London by E. Gambart, Junin & Cie, this engraving belongs to a series aimed at introducing European audiences to the monuments of Athens through a combination of artistic sensitivity and historical observation. Such works played an important role in shaping nineteenth-century appreciation for Byzantine architecture, which had previously received less attention than classical Greek ruins.

Today, this engraving is valued for both its aesthetic qualities and its documentary significance. It stands as a refined example of nineteenth-century archaeological illustration and reflects the broader cultural interest in Greece’s layered architectural past.