Dance of the Dervishes, from 'Views in Greece'. Aquatint.
London: Rodwell and Martin, 1821. Magnificent original hand colored aquatint, a scene of the dance of the famous whirling dervishes of Greece, from one of the most impressive travel books of its time.
These plates were meant as illustrations for Dodwell's 'Classical and Topographical Tour through Greece...' of 1819, but the work proved to be so expensive that Dodwell selected 30 of the best views and published them in 'Views in Greece'..
In this scene in the interior of the Tower of the Winds (Athens), 2 Turkish whirling dervishes spin as a man in white turban sings and plays the tambourine. The Tower of the Winds is considered to be the world's first meteorological station; in Ottoman times it was converted to a tekke (spiritual retreat for the Sufi brotherhood).
11 3/4 x 15 3/4" wide margins. Closed tear at bottom edge, not intruding on printed area. OCLC: 3583021. Abbey Travel 130; Blackmer 493; Brunet II:788; Colas 876; Tooley 182. Very good condition. Item #21037
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