Description: RHEINFELS ABOVE ST GOAR, - RHINE Artist: W. H. Bartlett ____________ Engraver: T. A. Prior Note: the title in the table above is printed below the engraving AN ANTIQUE STEEL ENGRAVING MADE IN THE 1860s !! ITEM IS OVER 130 YEARS OLD! VERY OLD WORLD! INCREDIBLE DETAIL! Rheinfels, the largest ruined castle on the Rhine, provides a wealth of information regarding the art of fortification, particularly during the Late Renaissance period. It was built in 1245 by Count Dieter V of Katzenelnbogen, becoming his family seat and the scene of lively cultural activities. In the 16th and 17th centuries the Hessian landgraves converted the building to form both a residene and a fortress. It was destroyed in 1796-1797. The ruins of the medieval castle (a huge cellar with an immense barrel vault) together with the subterranean passages of the fortress are highly impressive. FROM THE ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION: The most extensive rum on the Rhine is the fortress of Rheinfels, standing a little above the town of St. Goar. Connected with this castle, there is an interesting story given in the "Hand-book." It would appear that the original stronghold was erected by a Count Diether, of Katzenellenbogen, in the middle of the 13th century, with the twofold object of making it a residence for himself, and a place of strength, where he could exact tolls upon all sorts of merchandise transported up or down the river. "An attempt, however, on his part to increase these duties roused the indignation of his neighbours, and his castle was besieged in vain for fifteen months by the burghers of the adjacent towns. This unsuccessful attempt was productive of more important consequences: it was one of the circumstances which gave rise to the extensive confederacy of the German and Rhenish cities' to the number of sixty, whose more numerous and formidable armies reduced and dismantled, not only the castle of Rheinfels, but also most of the other strongholds or robber-nests upon the Rhine. This event took place in the latter part of the 13th century. Such is the story-respecting the earlier part of the history of this fortress. Subsequently it fell into the hands of the Landgrave of Hesse, who converted it into a modern fortress. In 1693, it was besieged by the French, under Marshal Tallard, who, however, was forced to draw off his forces from the vigorous defence made by the Hessian general, Gortz. In 1794, it was again attacked by the French, and abandoned by the Hessian garrison without firing a shot. The French blew it up, reducing it to a mass of ruins. ABOUT THE ARTIST: William Henry Bartlett, (b London, 26 March 1809; d at sea, off Malta, 13 Sept 1854) was an English draughtsman, active also in the Near East, Continental Europe and North America. He was a prolific artist and an intrepid traveller. His work became widely known through numerous engravings after his drawings published in his own and other writers' topographical books. His primary concern was to extract the picturesque aspects of a place and by means of established pictorial conventions to render 'lively impressions of actual sights', as he wrote in the preface to The Nile Boat (London, 1849). SIZE: Image size is 5 inches by 7 inches. Print size is 9 1/2 inches by 12 1/2 inches including white borders. CONDITION: Condition is excellent. Bright and clean. Blank on reverse. SHIPPING: Buyers to pay shipping/handling, domestic orders receives priority mail, international orders receive regular mail. Please note: the terms used in our auctions for engraving, heliogravure, lithograph, print, plate, photogravure etc. are ALL prints on paper, NOT blocks of steel or wood. "ENGRAVINGS", the term commonly used for these paper prints, were the most common method in the 1700s and 1800s for illustrating old books, and these paper prints or "engravings" were inserted into the book with a tissue guard frontis, usually on much thicker quality rag stock paper, although many were also printed and issued as loose stand alone prints. So this auction is for an antique paper print(s), probably from an old book, of very high quality and usually on very thick rag stock paper. EXTREMELY RARE IN THIS EXCELLENT CONDITION!
Price: 7.99 USD
Location: New Providence, New Jersey
End Time: 2024-12-25T15:15:44.000Z
Shipping Cost: 7.95 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 14 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Material: Engraving
Date of Creation: 1800-1899
Subject: Landscape
Original/Licensed Reprint: Original
Type: Print
