Three copper engravings from Description de l’Egypte were recently added to the Mahoney Music Collection. These plates are from Antiquities volumes 2 and 5, and show individuals playing harps. Each measures about 30” x 22”, with one in color and the others in grey tones. These images spark my curiosity. What did early Egyptian harp music sound like?
Description de l’Egypte is a multivolume set containing information gathered during Napoleon Bonaparte’s expedition to Egypt in 1798. The first edition was published 1802 – 1824 and had four printings. These printings differ mainly in quality, i.e. in the types of paper used and how many of plates were in color. For more about the books and the plates, the expedition, the people involved, the engraving process, the Rosetta Stone, and the ancient Suez canal, see Gillispie, and Dewachter.
Source: Gillispie, C., & Dewachter, M. (1987). Monuments of Egypt: The Napoleonic edition: The complete archaeological plates from la Description de l’Egypte. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton Architectural Press in association with the Architectural League of New York, the J. Paul Getty Trust, call number Main Collection DT60 .M59 1987.
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