CONSECRATION OF AARON ISRAEL EGYPT 1734 CALMET ANTIQUE ORIGINAL RELIGIOUS VIEW

Aaron and His Sons Consecrated by Moses.

Description: Striking and highly detailed fine rare English edition of the Antoine Augustin Calmet's copper engraved religious scene depicting the biblical scene of the consecration of Aaron and his sons by Moses, as described in the book of Leviticus.
 
Subject and Scene Details: Moses and Aaron:
 
On the left, the figure of Moses (recognizable by the traditional rays of light emanating from his head) performs the ritual anointing by pouring sacred oil on the head of his brother Aaron, dressed in priestly robes. The Sons of Aaron: Around them are Aaron's sons (Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar) in an attitude of profound devotion or awaiting their own investiture.
 
The Bronze Basin: At the center of the composition is an imposing and decorated basin for ritual ablutions, supported by a monumental base, positioned in the courtyard of the Tabernacle. The basin also contains the ritual instruments needed to complete the purification ceremony.
 
At the bottom center, the English title is visible: "Aaron and His Sons Consecrated by Moses," while in the lower right corner is the biblical reference to the sacred text. This is a classic 18th or 19th-century biblical illustration, originally included in historical or theological volumes to document key passages of the Old Testament.

 Date: 1734 ( undated )

Dimension: Paper size approx.: cm 47,23 x 35,2
Condition: Very strong and dark impression on good paper. Paper with wiremarks. Map uncolored. Small foxing and browning. Small tear at the top. Map folded. Conditions are as you can see in the images. 

Writer: Antoine Augustin Calmet (February 26, 1672 - October 25, 1757) was a French Benedictine monk and Biblical scholar active in the late 17th and early 18th century. Calmut was born at Ménil-la-Horgne in Lorraine. He joined the Abbey of St-Mansuy at Toul in 1688. Approximately ten years later he was assigned to teach philosophy and theology in Moyenmoutier Abby. There he gathered the various materials and commentary with which he would eventually compose his important theological studies. Calmet's work initiated a new era of Biblical exegesis in which the dominant allegorical approach to theological analysis was replaced with a critical search for meaning and significance. Calmet was a religious as well as a learned man, and one of the most distinguished members of the Congregation of St. Vanne. In recognition of these qualities he was elected prior of Lay-Saint-Christophe in 1715, abbot of St-Léopold at Nancy in 1718, and of Senones Abbey in 1729; he was also twice entrusted with the office of president or superior general of the congregation. Pope Benedict XIII wished to confer Episcopal Dignity upon him, but in his humility could not be brought to accept the honor. Among Calmet's more interesting works is a 1746 treatise that ambiguously, though not explicitly, considers the existence of Vampires. Calmet died at Senones Abbey, near Saint-Dié, on 25 October 1757.