RUSSIA-MUSCOVY-PROCESSION-BLESSING OF WATER [After OLEARIUS, 1719]

Procession des Moscovites pour benir l’Eau.

Copperplate engraving/etching on hand laid (verge) paper.
Sheet size: 23,5 x 36 cm. Image size: 16,5 x 13,5 cm.

From: ‘Les Voyages du sieur Adam Olearius’ published by Pierre van der Aa in Leiden, The Netherlands 1719. Ref: Hollstein LIII 1999, 201. Van der Krogt KAN IVA, 44:29.

Made by an anonymous engraver after Adam Olearius. Adam Olearius (1599 – 1671) was a German scholar, mathematician, geographer and librarian. He became secretary to the ambassador sent by Frederick III, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp. Employed as secretary to an embassy sent by the small German state of Holstein to explore an overland trade route with Persia. The first embassy was dispatched to Russia in 1633-34 to secure the tsar’s permission to travel and ship through his realm. The second was sent in 1635 to complete the deal with the king (shah) of Persia. Although the commercial mission failed miserably, the embassy was successful in the incredible amount of information gathered by Olearius.

Condition: Very good, given age. General age-related toning and/or occasional minor defects from handling. Please study scan carefully.

Keywords: RUSSIA-MUSCOVY-PROCESSION-BLESSING OF WATER

PCOM-A7-02