The Napoleonic Survey of Egypt: Description De L'Egypte : The Monuments and Customs of Egypt : Selected Engravings and Texts (Volume 1 & 2) [Hardcover]

Terence M. Russell (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1859282482 | ISBN-13: 978-1859282489 | Publication Date: January 2001

Napoleon Bonaparte celebrated his conquest of Egypt in 1798 by commissioning a survey of the country's treasures published as the "Description de l'Egypte". An army of engravers collaborated with artist-illustrators over a 30-year period to produce 900 folio engravings of huge proportions depicting the architecture, monuments and antiquities of ancient Egypt together with contemporary views of the country. Reproducing large sections of the original folio, this is the first book in English to provide an accessible and comprehensive account of the origins and creation of the "Description de l'Egypte". Terence M. Russell draws upon numerous first-hand reports of the French exploration in order to re-evaluate the intellectual and artistic achievements of Napoleon's ambitious campaign. He shows how, different from anything else conceived at the time, the rich plethora of drawings and personal writings compiled by the intrepid French explorers opened European eyes to the diverse splendours of a long forgotten civilization, giving rise to the science of Egyptology.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

A major scientific and intellectual achievement of the early 19th century was the publication in large folio format of the findings of the French scholars and artists who accompanied Napoleon Bonarparte's ill-fated invasion and occupation of Egypt (1798-99). The first edition of Description de l'Egypte was issued in 1809-22; a second edition appeared in 1821-28 in a smaller format. Both editions included text and plates in multiple volumes divided into three sections: "Antiquit‚s," "Etat moderne," and "Histoire naturelle." Copies of these magnificent tomes can only be found in special antiquarian collections. A trilingual edition including all of the plates with captions but without any text was issued in a small paperback format by Benedikt Taschen in 1994, but it is now out of print. Russell, a fellow of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland and senior lecturer in architecture at the University of Edinburgh, has assembled a selection of 203 illustrations from plates in the first two sections: "Antiquities" and "Egypt in the Eighteenth Century." He offers translations of selected original text and additional writings by French scholars who participated in the great expedition, along with his own commentary and insights. The content is authoritative and scholarly, yet not beyond the general reader interested in Egypt. Recommended for academic and larger public libraries. Edward K. Werner, St. Lucie Cty. Lib. Syst., Ft. Pierce, FL
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 881 pages
• Publisher: Ashgate Publishing (January 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1859282482
• ISBN-13: 978-1859282489
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 8.7 x 2.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,383,429 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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