Antiquities of Smyrna and Ephesus - Chatelain c.1705

Chatelain’s Antiquities of Smyrna and Ephesus (c. 1705–1720) Title: Antiquitez Curieuses qui se trouvent aux Environs de Smyrne... (Curious Antiquities found in the Environs of Smyrna and on the road to Ephesus) Cartographer/Author: Henri Abraham Chatelain Origin: Amsterdam, Netherlands Date: c. 1705–1720 Technique: Copperplate engraving with professional hand-colouring The Narrative: A Grand Tour on Paper This plate is a beautiful example of early 18th-century "encyclopedic" engraving, designed to bring the ancient wonders of the Ottoman Empire to the libraries of Europe. Chatelain’s work was unique for its time, combining detailed visual illustrations with extensive French commentary to provide a scholarly context for the ruins and artifacts shown. It captures the spirit of the Grand Tour, focusing on the legendary Greco-Roman sites of Smyrna (modern-day İzmir) and Ephesus, the home of the Temple of Artemis. Chronicles of the Print The Tomb of M. Fabius: The top center features an illustration of a Roman sarcophagus found near Smyrna, framed by two elegant, gold-washed Rococo-style decorative scrolls. Ancient Bas-Relief: The bottom-left depicts a detailed funerary relief with Greek inscriptions, showing figures in classical attire—a remarkable early effort at recording epigraphy for a Western audience. The Ruins of Ephesus: On the bottom-right, a scenic view shows the arched ruins of the Temple of Diana (Artemis), complete with figures and pack animals in the foreground to provide a sense of scale and contemporary life among the ancient stones. Encyclopedic Text: The surrounding panels are filled with detailed French text describing the history of the sites, the nature of the discoveries, and the geographical layout of the region.