Monastère de Daphné 1846

This 1846 original lithographic engraving after Théodore Du Moncel depicts the Monastery of Daphni (Monastère de Daphné) near Athens, one of the most remarkable Byzantine monuments in Greece. Issued as part of the publication Athènes monumentale et pittoresque, the print reflects the nineteenth-century European fascination with classical antiquity and the rediscovery of historic Mediterranean sites.

The composition presents the monastery set within a stark, mountainous landscape, emphasising both its architectural solidity and its contemplative isolation. Du Moncel’s careful rendering captures the distinctive Byzantine structure — fortified walls, domed church, and surrounding buildings — while also conveying the archaeological interest that such monuments held for travellers, scholars, and artists of the Romantic period.

Published in London by E. Gambart, Junin & Cie, this engraving belongs to a broader tradition of illustrated travel books that helped introduce Greece’s historic heritage to a European audience. These works combined documentary accuracy with artistic sensibility, contributing significantly to the period’s cultural tourism and scholarly engagement with the ancient world.

Today, this 1846 lithograph is appreciated both for its aesthetic qualities and its historical significance. It stands as a testament to nineteenth-century archaeological curiosity, early travel illustration, and the enduring fascination with Greece’s architectural legacy.

Engraving

Architecture - Greece

Monumental and picturesque Athens - Lith by Th. Du Moncel - London published by E. Gambart Junin & Cie - Victor Delarue & Cie

Printed by Auguste Bry in Paris

Good condition, soiled