JACOB VAN DER SCHLEY (1715-1779)

TORANGI PAGODA, 1758
Copperplate; plate imprint (trimmed): 21 x 16.5 cm
Signed: l.d.: J. v. Schley Sculp. direx
From the Dutch edition of "Histoire générale des voyages" by Antoine-François Prévost. Although this temple was the subject of several European modern prints, it could not be 100% identified. It was supposed to be dedicated to the 8-handed deity Toranga - a legendary hunter who defeated 8 Tyrannical kings and brought peace to Japan. The temple's walls depict four Japanese heroes, and its roof is crowned by four ox figures. It is possible that it was actually a Shintoist temple in Hakata or Fukuoka dedicated to the Japanese war deity Hachinama.
Asking price 100
Estimate 200 - 300 inquire about the object