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Antique Print Department
313 Occidental Ave South, Seattle, WA 98104
Director: Emily Pothast (Email) • (206) 624-6700
Hours: Tue-Sat 10am-5:30pm
David Roberts, R.A. (Scottish, 1796-1864)
Travels in the Holy Land
Trained as a painter of theatre sets and backdrops, David Roberts rose to acclaim through his habit of traveling to foreign locations to sketch scenes for later use in creating paintings of astonishing detail. In the era before photography, the works of such "travel artists" were the only window to the outside world for many Europeans. Through his two monumental series of collaborative lithographic works, Egypt and Nubia and The Holy Land (first published in 1842-1848), David Roberts secured an unparalleled reputation in this genre.
Geographically and chronologically nestled between his journeys in Egypt and Palestine, these stunning views of ancient temples and desert panoramas are among the most beloved of Roberts' subjects.
ABOUT THE LITHOGRAPHS: Davidson Galleries handles only genuine first editions of David Roberts lithographs, all published by F.G. Moon in London between 1842 and 1849. These include the Royal Subscription Edition (RSE) Folio prints and the Standard Edition (SE) Folio prints. All RSE lithographs are hand colored and mounted to a card as issued. The SE lithographs, although they were designed to be hand colored just like the RSEs, were not hand colored by the publisher. Contemporary hand coloring, if done correctly and expertly, enhances the value and appearance of SE prints. The prints listed are all SE impressions unless otherwise noted.
Please contact the gallery for prices and availability.
• More David Roberts lithographs: Travels in Egypt & Nubia
Cairo to Mt.Sinai to Petra
Approach to Mount Sinai
Original SE lithograph with hand coloring.
13-9/16 x 20 inches.
[HA01]
Suez, General View
Original SE lithograph with added hand coloring. The city of Suez before the building of the canal. The faint rainbow above the city is true to the original color scheme, and added by hand.
13-1/8 x 19-9/16 inches.
[HA02]
Ascent of the Lower Range of the Sinai
Original SE lithograph with added hand coloring.
13-3/8 x 19-3/8 inches.
[HA03]
Scene on the Quay of the Suez
Half folio. Original SE lithograph (shown here in Original lithographic colors with no added hand coloring). The accompanying text speculates on the effect the construction of a canal connecting the Mediterranean and the Red Sea might have on the City. The construction of the Suez Canal began ten years after Roberts’ journey.
10-1/8 x 13-3/16 inches.
[HA04]
An Ancient Egyptian Temple on Gebel Garabbe
Half folio. Original SE lithograph (shown here in Original lithographic colors with no added hand coloring). A ruined Egyptian temple encountered by Roberts in the midst of the Sinai desert, on the summit of a small mountain.
10-3/16 x 14-1/16 inches.
[HA05]
Ayun Musa, The Well of Moses
Half folio. Original SE lithograph with added hand coloring.
10 x 13-1/2 inches.
[HA06]
Convent of St. Catherine, Mount Sinai (Principal Court)
Original SE lithograph with added hand coloring.
13-7/8 x 19-13/16 inches.
[HB07]
General View of the Convent of St. Catherine (Showing Mt. Horeb)
Original SE lithograph with added hand coloring.
13-7/8 x 19-3/4 inches.
[HB08]
Chapel of the Convent of St. Catherine, Mount Sinai
Original SE lithograph with added hand coloring. The main chapel of this very famous monastery.
13-9/16 x 19-7/16 inches.
[HB09]
Convent of St. Catherine, Mount Sinai, Looking Towards the Plain of the Encampment
Original SE lithograph with added hand coloring. (ALSO AVAILABLE: RSE impression with. Original hand coloring).
13-1/2 x 19-1/2 inches.
[HB10]
Convent of St. Catherine, Mount Sinai
Half folio. Original SE lithograph with added hand coloring. This image shows the trap door entrance through which Roberts was hauled on his visit to the monastery.
10-1/8 x 13-15/16 inches.
[HB11]
Ascent to the Summit of the Sinai
Half folio. Original SE lithograph with added hand coloring. A very popular vertical half-folio of the trail to the summit of Mt. Sinai.
13-1/2 x 10 inches.
[HB12]
Summit of Mount Sinai, Showing the Christian and Mahometan Chapels
Half folio. Original SE lithograph with added hand coloring.
10 x 13-1/2 inches.
[HB13]
Chapel of Elijah, Mt. Sinai
Half folio. Original SE lithograph with added hand coloring.
13 x 9-1/2 inches.
[HB14]
Rock of Moses, Wady-El-Leja, Mount Horeb
Half folio. Original SE lithograph with added hand coloring. The Rock of Moses is the spot from which Moses is said to have brought forth water to supply the Israelites in the desert.
10 x 13 inches.
[HB15]
Island of Graia, Gulf of Akabah
Original SE lithograph with added hand coloring. Roberts in Turkish dress in the lower right, with his paints and sketch pad, as his entourage travels towards Petra.
13-5/8 x 20 inches.
[HC16]
Emcampment of the Aulad-Said
Original SE lithograph with added hand coloring. The camp of the Aulad-Said tribe, Roberts’ Bedouin escort for his traverse of the Sinai.
13-1/2 x 19-1/2 inches.
[HC17]
Encampment of the Aloueen in Wady Araba
Half folio. Original SE lithograph with added hand coloring.
10 x 13 inches.
[HC18]
Fortress of Akbah, Arabia Petrea
Half folio. Original SE lithograph with added hand coloring.
10 x 13 inches.
[HC19]
Petra (El Khasne)
Original SE lithograph with added hand coloring.
13-1/2 x 19-1/2 inches.
[HD20]
El Deir, Petra
Original SE lithograph with added hand coloring.
13-1/2 x 19-1/2 inches.
[HD21]
Petra, Upper or Eastern End of the Valley
Original SE lithograph with added hand coloring.
13-1/2 x 19-1/2 inches.
[HD22]
The Ravine (Petra)
Original SE lithograph with added hand coloring. A rare Holy Land vertical view, full folio of the entry into Petra through a narrow ravine flanked by rock temples carved into the pink sandstone cliffs.
20-1/2 x 13-1/2 inches.
[HD23]
The Theatre (Petra)
Original SE lithograph with added hand coloring.
20-1/2 x 13-3/8 inches.
[HD24]
Site of Petra, South
Original SE lithograph with added hand coloring. A view of the Petra Valley from the area of the later Roman ruins, showing the Nabatean ruins in the surrounding cliffs.
13-1/2 x 19-1/2 inches.
[HD25]
Remains of a Triumphal Arch (Petra)
Original SE lithograph with added hand coloring. A closer view of the remains of the later Roman buildings on the valley floor.
13-1/8 x 19-9/16 inches.
[HD26]
Temple Called El Khasne (Lower Portion)
Original SE lithograph with added hand coloring.
19-1/2 x 13-1/2 inches.
[HD27]
The Acropolis, Lower End of the Valley (Petra)
Original SE lithograph with added hand coloring.
20-7/8 x 13-5/16 inches.
[HD28]
Temple Called El Khasne [Title Vignette]
Half folio. Original lithographic colors. The classic view of the approach to El Khasne through the cliffs of Petra, a visitor’s first sight ofthe valley.
Image: 12-1/2” x 18-5/8”.
[HD29]
Conference of Arabs
Half folio. Original lithographic colors, with hand coloring added. A gathering of Roberts’ Arab guides at Petra, held to resolve a dispute.
Image: Approx. 10-5/8” x 14”.
[HD30]
Arabs of the Desert
Half folio. Original lithographic colors. One of the few individual character studies in the series. The figure is Besharah, a Beni-Said tribesman who accompanied Roberts on this portion of his journey.
Image: 10-5/16” x 12-1/4”. .
[HD32]
Arch Across the Ravine, Petra
Half Folio. Royal Subscription Edition. Original lithographic colors, with original added hand coloring. A very popular half-folio view of a small portion of the long ravine entering Petra, showing an arch which has since fallen.
Image: Approx.10” x 13-1/2”.
[HD34]
Ancient Watch-Tower
Half folio. Original lithographic colors, with modern hand coloring added. A view of one of the chain of watch-towers protecting the approaches to Petra.
Image: 9-11/16” x 12-3/4”.
[HD35]
The Necropolis
Half folio. Original lithographic colors, with modern hand coloring added. A half-folio view of tombs and temples at Petra.
Image: 10-1/16” x 14”.
[HD36]
Hebron to Jaffa to Jerusalem
Please contact the gallery for prices and availability.
Jaffa Looking South
Full folio. Original lithographic colors, with modern hand coloring added. A view of the city of Jaffa (Tel Aviv), with a group, including Jewish travelers, in the foreground. One of the relatively few times Jewish figures are depicted in the lithographs.
Image: 13-3/4” x. 19-1/2”.
[HE38]
Jaffa [Looking North]
Half folio. Original lithographic colors. The view is of Jaffa (Tel Aviv) looking north from outside the city.
Image: 9-11/16” x 13-7/8”.
[HE42]
Ashdod
Half folio. Original lithographic colors. A view of Ashdod, one of the ancient Philistine kingdoms. The city was reduced to a small village at the time Roberts sketched it.
Image: 9-3/8” x 13-1/8”.
[HE44]
Ramla
Half folio. Original lithographic colors. The town of Ramla is on the road between Jerusalem and Jaffa (Tel Aviv). At the time of Roberts’ visit it was the site of the largest Latin convent in Palestine.
Image: 9-9/16” x 13-3/16”.
[HE45]
Ruins of Semua
Half folio. Original lithographic colors. A depiction of Roberts’ group traveling towards Jerusalem.
Image: 9” x 13-1/8”.
[HE47]
Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives
Full folio. Original lithographic colors, with modern added hand coloring. Another of the very popular full folio panoramas of Jerusalem, showing the Valley of the Kidron at lower right.
Image: Approx. 13” x 19-1/2”.
[HF50]
Jerusalem from the North
Full folio. Original lithographic colors. The most atmospheric of the full folio panoramas of Jerusalem, with strong lights and shadows, shows the city and the Mount of Olives to its left.
Image: Approx. 13” x 19-1/2”.
[HF051]
Interior of the Greek Church of the Holy Sepulcher
Full folio. Original lithographic colors, with hand coloring added. Russia rebuilt the Church of the Holy Sepulcher after a fire in 1808, and as a reward Greek Orthodox monks were given possession of this chapel.
Image: Approx. 12-7/8” x 19-5/16”.
[HF056]
Mount Calvary
Full folio. Original lithographic colors, without added hand coloring. A view of a Chapel of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, emphasizing the geometry of the arches.
Image: Approx. 12-15/16” x 18-7/8”.
[HF057]
The Tower of David
Half folio. . Original lithographic colors. The Tower of David is located at the northeast corner of the Citadel of Jerusalem.
Image: 9-3/4” x 12-5/8 ”.
[HF062]
The Stone of Unction
alf folio. Original lithographic colors, with modern hand coloring added. A view of the Stone of Unction located in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
Image: Approx. 10” x 13”.
[HF065]
Outside Jerusalem, North to Nazareth
Please contact the gallery for prices and availability.
The Pillar of Absalom
Half folio. Original lithographic colors. A view of one of a group of four tombs outside the old city walls, this one known as the Pillar of Absalom. In his description, Roberts notes its similarities to the architecture of Petra.
Image: 10” x 12-5/8”.
[HF067]
The Pool of Siloam
Half folio. Original lithographic colors. The ancient reservoir at the southeast corner of Jerusalem, in the Valley of Jehosephat.
Image: 9-1/2” x 13-1/2”.
[HF068]
The Upper Fountain of Siloam
Half folio. Original lithographic colors. The ancient natural fountain of Siloam, which issues from the rock and feeds a reservoir and a pool in the Valley of Jehosephat.
Image: 9-15/16” x 12-9/16”.
[HF069]
Crypt of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem
Full folio. Original lithographic colors, with modern hand coloring added. A popular full folio of the crypt area beneath the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.
Image: Approx. 12-15/16” x 18-15/16”.
[HF072]
Bethlehem
Full folio. Royal Subscription Edition. Original lithographic colors, with original hand coloring. The city is shown with the hills of Moab and the Dead Sea in the distance.
Image: 9-3/8” x 12-1/8 ”.
[HG073]
Descent Upon the Valley of the Jordan
Full folio. Original lithographic colors. Roberts’ party descending the hills on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho in the northern end of the Dead Sea.
Image: 12-7/8” x 19-1/16 “.
[HG076]
Convent of St. Saba [Wilderness of Engedi]
Full folio. Original lithographic colors. Looking east toward the Dead Sea, with the Convent of St. Saba barely visible in the distance.
Image: 13” x 19-1/2 ”.
[HG078]
The Chapel of St. Saba
Half folio. Original lithographic colors. The Chapel of the Convent of St Saba is located in the hills southeast of Jerusalem.
Image: 9-1/2” x 13-5/16”.
[HG079]
Encampment of the Pilgrims at Jericho
Half folio. Original lithographic colors. One of the many groups of pilgrims gathered at Jericho to bathe in the River Jordan at Easter.
Image: Approx. 9-1/2” x 13”.
[HG080]
Jacob’s Well at Shechem
Full folio. Original lithographic colors. The biblical site of the well at which Jesus is said to have rested on his journey from Jerusalem to Galilee. Here Jesus was reputed to have had conversation with a certain Samaritan woman.
Image: 14-3/8” x 20-9/16”.
[HH087]
The Tomb of Joseph at Shechem
Half folio. Original lithographic colors. A view of the tomb of Joseph at Shechem, where according to the Bible the remains of Joseph were interred after being carried from Egypt.
Image: 10-1/8” x 13-7/8”.
[HH088]
Sabaste, Ancient Samaria
Full folio. Original lithographic colors, with modern added hand coloring added. The only equestrian print from the series. The ruins of Sabaste, the capital of ancient Samaria, are in the distance.
Image: 13-11/16” x 18-13/16”.
[HH089]
Ruins of the Church of Saint John, Sebaste
Half folio. Original litho-graphic colors. A view of the Church of St. John the Baptist, at which he was reputed to have been imprisoned, martyred and buried.
Image: 9-1/2” x 13-3/16”.
[HH090]
Jenin, Ancient Jezreel
Half folio. Original lithographic colors. The town of Jenin lies on the route between Jerusalem and Nazareth in the midst of what was then a fertile area of fruit and palm trees.
Image: Approx 10” x 13”.
[HH091]
Nazareth, General View
Full folio. Original lithographic colors. An encampment of Bedouin tents outside the town.
Image: 14-1/4” x 20-11/16”.
[HH093]
Convent of the Terra Santa, Nazareth
Full folio. Original lithographic colors. A scene of the Convent of the Terra Santa, on a hillside facing Nazareth.
Image: 14-1/16” x 20-1/8”.
[HH094]
Fountain of the Virgin, Nazareth
Half folio. Original lithographic colors. A view of the only public fountain in Nazareth, thus believed to be the spot where the Virgin Mary would have drawn water.
Image: 9-3/4” x 13-7/16”.
[HH097]
Cana to Acre, Lebanon, Baalbec
Please contact the gallery for prices and availability.
Fountain of Cana
Half folio. Original lithographic colors. The well at Cana where tradition holds the water was drawn that Jesus turned into wine.
Image: 9-1/2” x 13-1/4”.
[HI099]
Sea of Tiberias, Towards Bashan
Full folio. Original lithographic colors. The Sea of Tiberias was also known as the Sea of Galilee. Here it is shown as approached from Nazareth in the west. With image No. 228, this print makes a diptych panorama.
Image: Approx. 13” x 19”.
[HI100]
Tiberias [Looking Towards Hermon]
Full folio. Original lithographic colors. The town of Tiberias is seen in the distance, with the Lake of Tiberias. With image No. 227, this print makes a diptych panorama.
Image: 12-3/4” x 19-1/8”.
[HI101]
Town of Tiberias, Looking Towards Lebanon
Half folio. Original lithographic colors. The town of Tiberias, viewed from the Roman ruins at the hot springs south of the city.
Image: 9-3/4” x 13-1/2”.
[HI102]
Tiberias from the Walls
Half folio. Original lithographic colors. The town of Tiberias with the town of Safed on the hill in the distance. An earthquake had devastated the area only a year before Roberts’ visit, killing many of the residents of Safed.
Image: 9-3/8” x 13-3/8”.
[HI103]
St. Jean D’Acre from the Land
Full folio. Original lithographic colors. A view of what is now modern Acre, showing the army of the Pasha conducting maneuvers.
Image: Approx. 14” x 19”.
[HI104]
Caiphas, Looking Towards Mount Carmel
Full folio. Original lithographic colors. A view of the Mediterranean coast near Mount Carmel.
Image: 13-1/8” x 19-5/8”.
[HI106]
Cape Blanco
Full folio. Original lithographic colors. One of the few landscape images from the series without prominent ruins or figures, showing a section of the coast of Lebanon, south of Tyre.
Image: 14-1/16” x 20”.
[HJ108]
General View of Tyre
Full folio. Original lithographic colors. One of the best images of the Lebanese Coast and the old city of Tyre.
Image: 13-1/8” x 19-9/16”.
[HJ109]
General View of Sidon
Full folio. Original lithographic colors. The ancient city of Sidon was the site of many seiges and battles during and after the Crusades.
Image: Approx. 13” x 19”.
[HJ114]
The Citadel of Sidon
Half folio. Original lithographic colors. A depiction of the Citadel of Sidon, protecting the harbor and connecting to the mainland with a graceful causeway.
Image: Approx. 10” x 13”.
[HJ115]
Sidon, from the North
Half folio. Original lithographic colors. The city of Sidon, showing the Temple of Zebulon in the foreground and the fortified city wall behind it.
Image: 9-3/4” x 13-1/2”.
[HJ116]
Doorway of Baalbec
Full folio. Royal Subscription Edition, 1842-49. Original lithographic colors, with original hand coloring added. One of the key Holy Land images. A spectacular view of the ruins of Baalbec. Roberts exaggerated the fallen keystone for effect.
Image: 14-3/8” x 20-7/16”.
[HK117]
Baalbec [Western Portico]
Full folio. Original lithographic colors, with modern hand coloring added. Another important Holy Land lithograph. A view of the Western Portico of the central ruins of the Roman temple of Baal.
Image: 12-15/16” x 19-5/8”.
[HK118]
Baalbec [General View]
Full folio. Original lithographic colors. The Baalbec ruins from the near distance, with Roberts’ party encamped in the foreground.
Image: Approx. 13” x 19-1/2”.
[HK119]
Portion of the Eastern Portico, Baalbec
Full folio. Original lithographic colors, with added modern hand coloring. Roberts noted that the stones used here were the largest he had seen, one piece being over 60 feet long, twice what he had encountered in any Egyptian ruin.
Image: 14” x 20”.
[HK120]
Baalbec, from the Fountain [Title Vignette]
Full folio. Original lithographic colors, with added modern hand coloring. One of the three Holy Land Title Vignettes. Roberts considered this the finest location from which to view the entire site of Baalbec.
Image: 14-5/16” x 20-1/2”.
[HK121]
Circular Temple, Baalbec
Half folio. Original lithographic colors. The Baalbec ruins seen from the southeast. This lithograph shows the most detail of the main temple exterior of any of the Baalbec prints.
Image: 9-1/2” x 13-9/16”.
[HK122]
Lesser Temple of Baalbec, looking towards Lebanon
Half folio. Original lithographic colors. A view of the Baalbec ruins from the North, showing the lower enclosures. Roberts commented on the exceptional strength with which Baalbec had been built, in part to withstand the area’s earthquakes.
Image: 9-11/16” x 13-1/2”.
[HK123]
