Mid 19th Century French Hand-Colored Engraving "Donkey Fair Of Nîmes" - 15¼" x 19¼"

A hand-colored engraving titled “The Donkey Fair in Nîmes on Saint Michel Day” signed Castelot, depicting a lively scene before the Roman arena of the city. The composition is rich with narrative detail, showing townspeople, merchants, and animals gathered for the traditional fair. Numerous small episodes animate the scene, including vendors at their stalls, riders on donkeys, curious onlookers, and even two men engaged in a quarrel, capturing the energy and humor of the bustling gathering. The arcaded façade of the ancient amphitheater forms a dramatic architectural backdrop. The engraving is enhanced with watercolor, adding soft tones to the figures and landscape while preserving the precision of the engraved lines.

The print is notable for the unusual treatment of its corners, which are rounded and shaped rather than cut at right angles. This format suggests that the engraving was originally intended as part of a book or a published series. Such plates were typically bound within illustrated albums or travel publications celebrating regional life and historic sites. The effect softens the composition and gently frames the central scene.

Presented today in a gilt frame with a cream mat, the engraving shows gentle toning consistent with age and retains a warm, atmospheric presence. The scene offers a vivid glimpse of local tradition set against the enduring Roman heritage of Nîmes. Rich in narrative detail, it brings character and quiet historical charm to an interior