This plate depicts an imagined reconstruction of the colossal gold-and-ivory statue of Zeus (Jupiter Olympien) at Olympia — one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the masterwork of the sculptor Phidias — shown seated within a cross-section of the Temple of Zeus at Elis, site of the ancient Olympic Games held every four years. 

The image is captioned in both German and French, describing the statue's 60-foot seated height and noting the reconstruction follows the description of the ancient writer Pausanias.

 

Entwurf einer Historischen Architectur is a landmark early 18th-century architectural publication, considered among the first comparative surveys of historical architecture across cultures and periods, also notable for including Fischer von Erlach's own real-world commissions such as Vienna's Karlskirche.

Condition: Overall paper toning. A darker stain area on the left margin. Faint vertical center fold. Small chip/tears at the left margin edge and one-half inch tear at top margin down to image. Hand-coloring vivid and intact throughout. Please review photos for full condition detail. Tape remnants on reverse. Image approximately 12 inches x 16.5 inches.