1732 RIDINGER, J.E. - Vorstellung der Evangelisch-Ostindischen Kirche Augsburger Protestanten.

It is a very decorative and rare print to commemorate the 200-year Confession of the Augsburg Protestant Confession. Engraved by J. Kleinschmidt after a design of E. Ridinger.
It displays a missionary scene bordered by broad ornaments and a floral border. Below a small map of India (55 x 110mm.) flanked by two natives, who each hold a portrait in oval and coat of arms and "Grundriss von der Ierusalems Kirchen" (floor plan of the churches of Jerusalem.)

The print was separately published and also appeared in J.M.Roth, "Augspurgisches Iubel-Gedächtnüs" in 1732.

In the background, there are mountains, palm trees, houses, and people, including a Chinese person. The foreground shows deciduous and palm trees, with a lit grotto holding an idol inscribed with "Brama". In front of the grotto, an evangelical missionary preaches to a large congregation of natives while holding a book of music in his left hand and pointing to Brama with his right hand. 

The missionary wears a turban, a priest's cloak, and has flappers. The audience under the hill is depicted in interesting groups, with some closer to us, appearing larger and clearer. At the bottom of the engraving, there is an art altar with several books, including the "Biblia Malabarica", "Catechism Malabaricus", and the hymnal "Liber Cantion. Malabar." 

The engraving was made by the German engraver, painter, draughtsman, and art publisher Johann Elias Ridinger (1698-1767). 

He trained in Ulm and Augsburg under Christoph Resch and Johann Falch, and learned engraving from Georg Philipp Rugendas. Ridinger later spent three years in Regensburg, where he developed his style through coursing and visits to the riding school. His ornamental works show Rococo stylistic tendencies, and he founded his own publishing house in Augsburg. 

His precise and tasteful drawings were highly regarded and transferred to decoration, porcelain, and ceramics.

Underneath a eight line text in Latin and German, with the following text :
Spargitur eoas divinum lumen in oras,
Et tristes tenebrae discutiuntur ibi.
Qui latices hausit stygios iam fonte salutis
Indus roratur, sacra fluenta bibens.
Tartareus cultu meliori pellitur hostis,
Destruit armipotens numina ficta manus.
Christe! Tibi pariat porro tua dextra triumphos,
Disiice labantes et phlegetonis opes.

Des höchsten Gnadenreich erweitert seine Grenzen,
Es bricht der Wahrheit Licht den armen Heiden an,
Man sieht im Orient die reine Lehre glänzen,
Es tritt das schwarze Volk nun auf die Lebens-Bahn,
Der stumme Götze muss vom alten Sitze weichen,
Man nimmt den wahren Gott in Kirch und Herzen ein,
Lass, Heiland! deine Hand noch immer weiter reichen,
Und deiner Lehre Sieg recht ausgebreitet sein.

Together with 4pp. letterpress in German with a very detailed description of the activities of the Missionaries in India.

Reference: hienemann, Leben und Wirken des unvergleichlichen Thiermalers und Kupferstechers Johann Elias Ridinger, 913; Thienemann, "Nachträge, Zusätze und Berichtigungen C. L. zu : Leben und Wirken des unvergleichlichen Thiermalers und Kupfer stechers Johann Elias Ridinger etc.", in Archiv für die zeichnenden Künste, 5, 1859, pp. 148-149.