Artist: William Brockedon (1787–1854), after a sketch by Thomas Leverton Donaldson (1795–1885)
Engraver: Edward Francis Finden (1791–1857)
Technique: Original Antique Steel Engraving
Dimensions: 15x23 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 1836 steel engraving presents a sweeping topographical view of Ephesus (modern-day Turkey), historical site of one of the Seven Churches of Asia mentioned in the Book of Revelation. The work was drafted by British artist William Brockedon, relying directly on an on-the-spot field sketch by the prominent English architect Thomas Leverton Donaldson. Engraved by Edward Finden, the print depicts the ancient ruined settlement structures and an early Islamic mosque complex backdropped by an expansive, flat coastal plain and distant hills. Two prominent palm trees anchor the left foreground, while a small group of local figures rests on the right. This plate originates from the noted 19th-century publication Landscape Illustrations of the Bible compiled by Thomas Hartwell Horne and the Finden brothers.
About the Artists:
William Brockedon (1787–1854): An acclaimed English painter, author, and illustrator recognized for his accurate geographical and architectural landscape prints.
Thomas Leverton Donaldson (1795–1885): A pioneer British architect, co-founder of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), who traveled extensively to sketch classical ruins in Asia Minor.
Edward Finden (1791–1857): A master London line engraver who specialized in translating fine travel and biblical illustrations onto steel plates for elite publications.