Artist: William Henry Bartlett (1809–1854)
Engraver: J.B. Allen (James Baylis Allen, 1803–1876)
Technique: Original Antique Steel Engraving
Dimensions: Plate: 12.6x19.0 cm | Page: 20.0x27.0 cm
Status: Authentic print published between eighteen thirty six and eighteen thirty eight, explicit text attributions on the lower border
Publisher: Fisher, Son & Co., London & Paris
About the Artwork:
This authentic antique steel engraving, published circa 1836, showcases the imposing fortifications of Bakras Castle (historically known as Bagras or Gastron Castle), titled Castle in Mount Amana, Near the Khan Karamout. Perched on a steep rocky precipice within the Nur Mountains (ancient Mount Amanus, Turkey), this strategic medieval fortress guarded the Syrian Gates mountain pass. Masterfully drawn from nature by British topographical artist William Henry Bartlett, the composition captures the towering crusader ruins looking down onto a rushing river valley. To the right, a small hillside settlement stands nestled against the rugged cliffs, while the background rises into monumental mountain peaks. The foreground features a winding dirt road populated by local travelers, including a guide with a laden donkey, a figure in traditional attire standing by a large stone rock, and mountain goats grazing. Engraved with precise fine lines and deep tonal contrast by James Baylis Allen, this plate originates from the publication Syria, The Holy Land, Asia Minor, &c. Illustrated.
About the Artists:
William Henry Bartlett (1809–1854): One of the most celebrated and prolific British topographical illustrators of the nineteenth century, famed for his highly accurate on-the-spot travel sketches of the Middle East, Europe, and North America.
J.B. Allen (1803–1876): James Baylis Allen was a premier English line engraver in London, highly regarded for his exceptional skill in executing intricate landscape vistas and architectural ruins onto steel plates.