Sapphire in Orient
All Resolutions
Sapphire is an ornament of the priests of Judea and India, it is found on Cleopatra's crown, and sparkles on the diadems of the gods.
(Facing p. 96.)
Description:
The front of a boat gliding down the Nile among papyrus and water lilies is seen from the side, sheltering a throne under a canopy, on which Cleopatra sits in majesty while musicians play string instruments on the prow.
Each plate in this volume was printed twice: once within the relevant passage, framed by an ornamental border, and once unbordered in a separate portfolio bound at the rear, a practice common to luxury editions of the period.
The caption reads in the original French: Le saphir est parmi les ornements des prêtres de la Judée et de l'Inde, sur la couronne de Cléopâtre et il brille au diadème des dieux.
(Click on any high-resolution link to view the unblurred image.)
