Temple Called El Khasne Petra by David Roberts (4 results)

c. 61 x 44 cm. Original tinted lithograph with later hand colour. Full page. Roberts was the first independent, professional British artist to travel so extensively in the Near East. His tour in 1838-9 produced 272 sketches, a panorama of Cairo and three full sketchbooks, enough material to "serve me for the rest of my life" (Roberts, eastern journal, 28 Jan 1839). Over the next decade he made "a series of intire new drawings" for the large coloured lithographs executed by Louis Haghe for The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt & Nubia, which was originally published by subscription, 1842-9. No publication before this had presented so comprehensive a series of views of the monuments, landscape, and people of the Near East. "Robert's Holy Land was one of the most important and elaborate ventures of nineteenth-century publishing, and it was the apotheosis of the tinted lithograph" (Abbey, Travel). These lithographs were originally published in twenty parts, most parts containing six plates, the price for each part with coloured plates (the most expensive state) being 3 guineas. Yesterday and Today: The Holy Land, 26.

c. 61 x 44 cm. Original tinted lithograph with later hand colouring. Full page. Roberts was the first independent, professional British artist to travel so extensively in the Near East. His tour in 1838-9 produced 272 sketches, a panorama of Cairo and three full sketchbooks, enough material to "serve me for the rest of my life" (Roberts, eastern journal, 28 Jan 1839). Over the next decade he made "a series of intire new drawings" for the large coloured lithographs executed by Louis Haghe for The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt & Nubia, which was originally published by subscription, 1842-9. No publication before this had presented so comprehensive a series of views of the monuments, landscape, and people of the Near East. "Robert's Holy Land was one of the most important and elaborate ventures of nineteenth-century publishing, and it was the apotheosis of the tinted lithograph" (Abbey, Travel). These lithographs were originally published in twenty parts, most parts containing six plates, the price for each part with coloured plates (the most expensive state) being 3 guineas. Yesterday and Today: The Holy Land, 26.

A beautiful scetch of the Khazneh temple showing a few locals by the entrance to the temple. Known as the Scottish Canaletto, David Roberts was considered one of the best topographical artists of his generation. Size: 330 x 485 mm. Lithograph. Hand coloured. Mounted size: 540 x 690 mm. Fine condition.

Condition: Excellent. The Prints of David Roberts:Part 1 - The PrinterLouis Haghe (1806-1885) was one of the msot skillful exponents of the tinted lithograph who became a leading reproductive lithographer in England and on the Continent. Haghe's reputation as a lithographer was primarily based upon topographical views, of which Twyman notes "his most important work of this kind, the translation of Roberts' sketches of the Holy Land, represents the culmination of his art".Part 2 - The Publication of Roberts' Holy Land and EgyptRoberts first sketched in his journals "on the spot" the vaious subjects which, on returning to London, he transcribed into finished paintings and watercolors. These then formed the basis of the lithographs drawn and printed by Louis Haghe. It is interesting to note that in some instances Roberts' original drawings were twice or three times the size of the published print, which indicated the skill of Haghe and his assistants in transferring Roberts' designs onto lithographic stones.Part 3 - A Genesis of Roberts' PrintsDavid Roberts fulfilled a boyhood dream by visiting the East and recording what he saw there; by August 1838 he had resolved to "visit the Holy Land, and make drawings of the scenes of sacred history and the antiquities of Egypt". By this time Roberts had already established himself as a successful topographical artist and published his set of Spanish scenery as tinted lithographs, Picturesque Sketches in Spain, 1837. Eventually he would be elected to the prestigious Royal Academy on the strength of his topographical paintings.Part 4 - The PlatesRoberts' Holy Land and Egypt project has been called "the most ambitious work ever published in England with lithographic plates" (according to Micheal Twyman). Its production involved over 600 lithographic stones used over an eight to nine year period. It is generally agreed the lithographers Day & Haghe were the most efficient for such large scale work, while Louis Haghe himself was a master lithographer.The plate formats strongly influenced their presentation as prints: large full-page and small half-page vignettes representing what Roberts intended to be the difference between finished drawings and sketches. roberts was a good judge of accurate transposition of his watercolors and sketches into lithography.Today historians regard Roberts' Holy Land and Egypt as the last link between the established artist and topographical lithography. Since Roberts' prints were the most costly publishing venture in Britain at the time, undertaken by a publisher "on his own responsibility", Roberts sighed on its completion: " . thank God . that with being blessed with health and backed by my ever esteemed friend Louis Haghe I may also say the most satisfactory."References:Micheal Twyman, Lithography, 1800-1850, London, 1970Katherine Sim, David Roberts, London 1984J.R. Abbey, Travel in aquatint and lithograph 1770-1860, Nos. 272, 385James Ballantine, The Life of David Roberts, Edinburgh, 1866Helen Guiterman, David Roberts, London 1978Barbican Art Gallery (catalogue), David Roberts, London, 1986British Library (BS), Image Size : 490x340 (mm), 19.25x13.375 (Inches), Platemark Size : , Paper Size : 610x415 (mm), 24x16.375 (Inches), Hand Colored, Lithograph.