Veduta della probatica piscina nella città di Gerusalemme. (View of the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem.)

c.1800. . Watercolour and pastel on paper, mounted on cardboard (220 x 305 mm). Fine condition. Framed. Attractive original watercolour which we can safely attribute to Mayer (fl. 1755-1803), the celebrated Italian orientalist who travelled extensively in the Middle East and published popular, nicely illustrated works on Egypt and the Levant. The Pool of Bethesda is located in the Muslim Quarter of the old city of Jerusalem, on the path of the Beth Zeta Valley. The name Bethesda is derived from Hebrew - 'Beit Hesed' meaning 'House of Mercy'. At the time of the Second Jewish Temple the pool was used as a water reservoir and a healing pool. According the Old Testament, the pool was originally built as a reservoir for rain water. In the late 19th century, the French constructed the Church of Saint Anne at the south east corner of the site in honour of Anne, Mary's mother. This photograph is one of the earliest pictures of the sight taken after its' discovery.