Artist: William Brockedon (1787–1854), after a sketch by Reverend Francis Vyvyan Jago Arundell (1780–1846)
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) [1, 2, 3]
About the Artwork:
This authentic 1836 steel engraving captures Philadelphia (modern-day Alaşehir, Turkey), renowned as one of the Seven Churches of Asia from the Book of Revelation. The composition was executed by British artist William Brockedon, meticulously replicating a contextual on-the-spot sketch drawn by the noted traveler Reverend F. J. Arundell. Engraved onto steel by Edward Finden, the print exhibits fine-line details showcasing the historic landscape backdropped by dramatic mountain ridges, a calm body of water, and minarets in the distance. The foreground is animated with regional figures, including travelers on horseback and camels. This piece is plate-sourced from the publication Landscape Illustrations of the Bible compiled by Thomas Hartwell Horne and the Finden brothers.
About the Artists:
William Brockedon (1787–1854): A highly regarded English painter, writer, and inventor famed for his Alpine landscape illustrations and travel series.
Rev. F. V. J. Arundell (1780–1486): A British antiquarian and chaplain at Smyrna who extensively explored and documented archaeological sites across Asia Minor.
Edward Finden (1791–1857): A master English line engraver who, alongside his brother William, dominated the 19th-century publishing market with premium biblical and topographical illustrations.