Title: The Festival of Purim — Portuguese Synagogue Amsterdam, Bernaeres Copper Plate Engraving, 1736

Style: Early 18th-Century Jewish Holiday Scene, Interior Architectural Tri-Fold Copper Plate Illustration

Source: Ceremonies et coutumes religieuses de tous les peuples du monde

Published: Amsterdam, 1736 (Half Title); Full Title: Ceremonies et coutumes religieuses de peuples idolatres…

Technique: Original Copper Plate Engraving with Plate Marks on Folded Sheet

Size: Sheet approx. 15.75 inches x 18.75 inches; Image approx. 15.5 inches x 12 inches

Condition: Very good + — light age toning

Description:

This original 1736 copper plate engraving by B. Bernaeres depicts the Purim celebration inside the Portuguese Synagogue of Amsterdam, one of the most significant centers of Sephardic Jewish life in early modern Europe.

• Title: La fête de Purim — The Festival of Purim

• Setting: The grand Portuguese Synagogue, rendered with its soaring columns, chandeliers, and arched windows

• Foreground: Members of the community in varied dress and social standing engaged in lively conversation

• Background: Men draped in prayer shawls participate in the Purim service around the bimah and ark

• Cultural significance: Commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people from Haman’s plot, as told in the Book of Esther

• Architectural fidelity: The synagogue remains largely unchanged today, preserving the same visual character seen in this print

• Publication: Issued in Bernard Picart’s monumental ethnographic series documenting religious ceremonies across cultures

Ideal for collectors of Judaica, early 18th‑century European engravings, and architectural or ceremonial prints.

Shipping and guarantee:

This is an original 1736 engraving — not a reproduction.

Items are folded as originally published, then shrink-wrapped on acid-free backing and mailed flat.

30-day return policy for any reason.