Ancienne Eglise Metropolitaine 1846

This 1846 original lithographic engraving after Théodore Du Moncel depicts the Ancienne Église Métropolitaine of Athens, one of the important Byzantine religious monuments documented in the influential publication Athènes monumentale et pittoresque. Produced during a period of renewed European fascination with Greece, the series sought to preserve and disseminate images of the country’s architectural heritage beyond its celebrated classical antiquities.

The composition presents the historic church within its urban setting, animated by figures in traditional dress, mounted travelers, and everyday street activity. This combination of architectural precision and human presence reflects the Romantic documentary approach characteristic of mid-nineteenth-century topographical illustration. The lithography was executed by Du Moncel with figures rendered by A. Bayot, whose contributions added narrative vitality and scale.

Published in London by E. Gambart, Junin & Cie, the engraving formed part of a broader effort to introduce Byzantine and post-classical Greek monuments to collectors, scholars, and travelers across Europe. Such works helped shape Western appreciation of Greece’s layered historical identity during the early decades of the modern Greek state.

Today, this engraving is valued both for its artistic refinement and its documentary importance. It stands as a testament to nineteenth-century archaeological curiosity, Romantic travel culture, and the enduring fascination with Athens’ architectural past.

Engraving

Architecture - Greece

Monumental and Picturesque Athens Lithograph by Th. Du Moncel Illustration by A. Bayot - London published by E. Gambart Junin & Cie - Victor Delarue & Cie

Printed by Auguste Bry in Paris

Good condition, slight soiling