Lamentations (Lamentações de Jeremias), 1796, William Bromley (British Engraver and Illustrator, 1769–1842), engraving, 47.8 x 39.6 cm, after Philippe Jacques de Loutherbourg (French-born English Painter, 1740-1812). Published by Thomas Macklin (British Printseller and Picture Dealer, 1752/3–1800), in “Poet’s Gallery”, London, Sept. 17th. 1796. English Bible, known as “Macklin’s Bible”. The Old [New-] Testament. London: Thomas Bensley for Thomas Macklin, 1800, Plate 8. See “Bowyer’s Bible“, Volume 22, 2822, Bolton Museum, Greater Manchester, England, UK. Illustration to Lamentations 2:11-12. More details: British Museum, London, UK. Large size here.

De lágrimas consomem-se meus olhos,
de tremor minhas entranhas,
por terra derrama-se meu fígado
por causa da ruína da filha de meu povo
enquanto pelas ruas da Cidade
desfalecem meninos e lactentes.

Perguntam às suas mães:
“Onde há pão?”
enquanto, como feridos, desfalecem
pelas ruas da Cidade
exalando sua vida
no regaço de sua mãe.

[Citação Bíblica: Lamentações 2.11-12, tradução de A Bíblia de Jerusalém)

Notes: Robert Bowyer (British Miniature Painter and Publisher, 1758–1834) begun his illustrated Bible in 1791 and finished in 1795, included 32 engravings by James Fittler (British Engraver and illustrator, 1758–1835) after Old Master paintings. Bowyer also bought prints in France that he incorporated into a later edition known as “Bowyer’s Bible“; he had an agent purchase even more during the Napoleonic wars. These were added to Thomas Macklin (British Printseller and Picture Dealer, 1752/3–1800) illustrated edition of the Bible: English Bible, known as “Macklin’s Bible”. The Old [New-] Testament. London: Thomas Bensley for Thomas Macklin, 1800. The six volumes of the “Macklin Bible” have been expanded by careful grangerisation, extending it to 45 volumes. These volumes containing 6,330 illustrations. It was donated to Bolton libraries by his descendants in 1948 and is now on display in Bolton Museum, Greater Manchester, England.

Currently, some copies of these etchings are exhibited in museums around the world. Recently a work was conducted by Phillip Medhurst, formely chaplain of Malvern College, Worcestershire, England. Medhurst’s purchase and collation of prints illustrating the Bowyer’s Bible (“The Phillip Medhurst Collection“) uses the photographic works of Harry Kossuth, formely scholar of Wadham College, Oxford, UK. The collection is housed at Belgrave Hall, Leicester, UK.