Engraved Portrait of most powerful Muslim leader of fifteenth century, 'Magnus Tamerlanes'.
Francois Langlois, il Ciartres, 1610 - 1647. An engraved portrait of the fifteenth century conqueror Timur (Turkic word for "Iron"). Timur (1336 - 1405), known as "Timur the lame" or Tamerlane, was a conqueror whose successful military campaigns across Eurasia made him the most powerful leader of the Muslim world, second only to Alexander in terms of conquests. From Samarkand, his capital, his conquests included Iraq, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Mesopotamia, Georgia, India, Syria, and Turkey. His territory stretched from the Mediterranean to Mongolia, from India to Russia. He was on his way to conquer Ming China in 1404, when he died during a brutally cold winter.
The portrait depicts Timur with a long mustache, bust length, turned to the right, wearing a hat of fur and cloth decorated with a feather and a brooch with pendant pearls. He wears a cloak fastened on his left shoulder with a brooch shaped like a flower. The portrait was engraved after one by Claude Vignon (1593 - 1670), a French painter noted for his distinctive style and unusually expressive portraits.
Engraved by Jerome David, after Claude Vignon, plate 9 from a series of 36. 'C. V. inventor', top left and with publication line: 'F. L. D. Ciartres excud. Cum Privilegio' at top right, and the title centered over the portrait, "Magnus Tamerlanes". Watermarked laid paper. 7 1/2 x 9", trimmed close. Very good overall. Item #20862
Price: $450.00