Pair of Engravings - The Great Plague of Marseille 1720 - 22½" x 30¾"v

These framed antique engravings, reproductions from the 1930s/1940s, depict scenes from the Great Plague of Marseille in 1720. Each scene is captured in careful detail, framed behind glass, offering a window into the harrowing events of this historical plague.

One engraving illustrates a bustling city street lined with classical architecture on both sides, capturing the somber atmosphere as a procession winds through the town square. The composition is dominated by human figures in various states of distress, with some raising banners, perhaps religious or heraldic, against a backdrop of the cityscape. The text at the bottom likely provides the title and explanatory context, enhancing the scene's narrative depth.

In the other engraving, a dramatic scene unfolds by the waterfront, with the harbor in the background. Here, the composition showcases the chaotic response to the plague's outbreak, with groups of people gathered in despair and urgency around the city’s entrance. The right side features a prominent building—perhaps symbolic of civic authority—juxtaposed against the disorder descending upon the port on the left. The intricately detailed ship and dock scene lend energy and urgency to this vividly depicted drama. The text underneath likely details the scene's title, adding historical context for the viewer.

The Great Plague of Marseille in 1720 was one of the last major outbreaks of bubonic plague in Europe, devastating the city and surrounding areas. It began when the merchant ship Grand-Saint-Antoine arrived from the Levant in May 1720, carrying infected goods and rodents. Despite quarantine measures, the disease spread rapidly, killing an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 people—nearly half the population. Authorities imposed strict quarantines, mass burials, and even built containment walls (mur de la peste) to prevent its spread beyond Provence. Likely caused by Yersinia pestis, transmitted through flea-infested rats, the plague crippled Marseille’s economy and left a lasting historical and cultural impact on the region.