Martin Engelbrecht [Augsburg] (1684-1756)
THE SYNAGOGUE c.1750
An Extremely rare Peep Show depiction of the Portugese Synagogue in Amsterdam. A set of 6 copper engraved card-backed, cut away sheets, [105×142 mm] with original hand-colouring;

The cut aways depict; [1] The entrance way to the temple, with six worshippers at the edges of the two classical pillars, and with one man centrally placed with arms raised in prayer, all looking into the scene towards the Bimah; [2], The Bimah, with large candelabra at each corner and the Rabbi centrally located holding the Torah raised above his head, three worshippers are in the foreground and five are located either side, we also see the mezzanine and interior windows of the temple on this cut away; [3] another group of worshippers, and two, three tier candelebra hang from the ceiling at each side; [4] a slide depicting the interior mezzanine with four large windows and classical pillars on either side; [5] Interior scene depicting three archways with a central opening flanked at either side by two windows; [6] the back drop of the entire scene with the Aron Hakadesh centrally located with the number 6 centrally written in manuscript ink in the foreground