Artist: James Duffield Harding (1797–1863), after an on-the-spot sketch by Louis François Cassas (1756–1827)
Engraver: William Finden (1787–1852)
Technique: Original Antique Steel Engraving
Dimensions: Plate: 10.2x14.9 cm | Page: 15.4x23.5 cm
Status: Authentic 1836 print, explicit text attribution on the lower plate border
Publisher: John Murray, London (Sold also by Charles Tilt)
About the Artwork:
This authentic antique steel engraving, published in 1836, presents a historic view of Larneca (modern-day Larnaca, Cyprus), linked to the biblical region of Kittim as referenced on the lower border at Genesis chapter ten, verse four. The composition was developed by the noted British landscape painter James Duffield Harding, who adapted an authentic, on-the-spot field sketch by the prominent French painter and archaeologist Louis François Cassas. Engraved onto steel by William Finden, the print showcases the coastal city’s historic architecture, featuring handsome consular residences, flat-roofed structures, and an arched loggia backdropped by rugged mountain ranges. The composition is anchored on the right by two large, detailed palm trees and lush regional flora, while the foreground is littered with ancient classical stone architectural fragments. A group of local travelers on horseback and on foot animates the central path. This plate originates from the publication Landscape Illustrations of the Bible.
About the Artists:
James Duffield Harding (1797–1863): A major British landscape painter, lithographer, and teacher celebrated for his technical drafting skills and work alongside John Ruskin.
Louis François Cassas (1756–1827): A distinguished French landscape painter, sculptor, and antiquarian who traveled extensively through the Levant, Cyprus, and Egypt, creating precise archaeological field studies.
William Finden (1787–1852): A master London line engraver famed for his exceptional fine-line precision on steel plates for top-tier illustrated books.