Tête colossale du Sphynx, vuë en face (Colossal Head of the Sphinx, Front View)
Print on paper, specifically an etching/engraving with hand-coloring • Frederic Louis Norden (Artist/Explorer) and Marcus Tuscher (Engraver).
Style & Movement
Enlightenment-era Documentary Illustration / Proto-Egyptomania. Early archaeological recording.
Medium & Technique
Etching and engraving on paper with contemporary hand-applied watercolor washes. The technique utilizes fine cross-hatching and parallel line work to define volume and texture.
Creation Period
Mid-18th Century, specifically 1755 (publication date) based on drawings from 1737-1738.
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 25 x 40 cm (plate mark); Landscape format.
Subject Description
A frontal view of the Great Sphinx of Giza, partially buried in sand, with the Pyramid of Khafre and travelers with donkeys in the foreground. The Sphinx is depicted with stylized features and a visible nose, which caused historical debate as it was published before the nose was widely known to be lost.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good to Very Good. Some minor age-toning and foxing characteristic of 18th-century paper.
Estimated Market Value
$500 - $1,200 USD (per individual plate); higher if part of a set.
Auction Estimate
$400 - $800 USD.
Provenance History
Originally published in 'Voyage d'Egypte et de Nubie' (Copenhagen, 1755). Likely sourced from a broken volume or a separate plate collection.
Art Historical Significance
One of the most important pre-Napoleonic visual records of Egypt. Norden's drawings were considered the most accurate until the French Commission's 'Description de l'Egypte'.
Notable Features
Features French inscriptions and plate number 'XLVI'. The depiction is famous for showing the Sphinx's nose, making it a key document in the study of the monument's historical appearance and myths.
Condition Issues
Visible plate line impressions; slight yellowing of the paper margins; minor surface abrasions; potential fading of the hand-coloring if exposed to light.
Conservation Recommendations
Use acid-free mounting and UV-protective glass. Maintain stable temperature and humidity (around 50% RH). Avoid direct sunlight to preserve watercolor pigments.