This striking view shows the ruins of the ancient city with Pompey's Pillar and Alexandria in the background. Cornelius de Bruyn (1652-1726) was a Dutch artist who traveled through the Holy Land and other portions of Asia. De Bruyn had to disguise his activities because this was a repressive period during the Ottoman rule when foreigners were regarded with suspicion and the making of "graven images" was prohibited. De Bruyn avoided detection by pretending to be picnicking with two Franciscan monks who stood guard while he made his drawings. His works are particularly historically valuable because of their accuracy.

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Condition: B+

A sharp impression, issued folding on a bright sheet with a vertical line of toning at far right, several small worm holes near the top edge of the sheet, and chips in the top corners of the sheet.