Seller: Antiquariaat Arine van der Steur / ILAB, Den Haag, Netherlands
Plate from De Hondt's 'Histoire générale des voyages, ou nouvelle collection de toutes les relations de voyage par terre et par mer.' volume 8, published in 1749. It represents the interior of a temple in China with three large allegorical statues representing respectively Pleasure (Mi-ni-so), the great King Gang and Immortality. These statues were particularly massive as the kneeling men worshipping the idols are very small in proportion.Signed on the bottom left: 'J. v. Schley direx.'; cut within plate so the title at top is missing: '[PAGODES ET STATUES].' Etching on paper, cut within plate mark, total: 188 x 257 mm; folding crease on the right half, otherwise in great condition; mounted on a thick sheet of paper.