Original antique colour plate lithograph.
Engraved by Louis Haghe after David Roberts. Published for the First Public Edition 1849.
Minor foxing in outer margin not effecting image, otherwise good condition.
This lithograph, in which the scale and size of the ruins is emphasised by placing figures at the bottom of one of the columns, represents the romantic spirit of David Roberts.
David Roberts arrived in Alexandria on September 24,1838 and departed from Cairo 18 months later in February, 1839. He travelled south along the Nile making only a few stops to his furthest destination, Aboo Simbel. His return north was at a calmer pace stopping at various historic sites sketching the ancient monuments of Egypt and Nubia. His intention was to use these drawings for paintings and lithographs to sell to the public on his return.
Following his return to the UK the publisher, F G Moon contracted him to work with the lithographer, Louis Haghe, to produce a series of lithographs of his travel in Egypt and the Holy Land.
It took eight years to complete all the plates. Evenly divided between Egypt and the Holy Land there were 120 folio size lithographs and 120 half folio size. The publishers intention was for subscribers to purchase a series of lithograph's as the plates were completed. Eventually acquiring all and having them bound into six volumes with each volume containing an illustrated title page. This being know as the subscribers edition it was limited in number. The appetite in the mid Victorian period for what was seen as the romance of the middle east had created a demand for David Roberts lithographs. It was therefore decided to publish a complete work of all the lithographs for general sale. This became know as the public edition.
The lithograph offered for sale is from the public edition.
It has been double mounted ready for framing.
