The Sphinx & Pyramid, Giza, Egypt: Original 19th C. Lithograph by David Roberts
This is an original 19th century duotone lithograph entitled "Side View of the Great Sphinx" by David Roberts, from his Egypt and Nubia volumes of the large folio edition, published in London by F. G. Moon in 1849. The lithographs were prepared by Louis Haghe (1806-1885) from drawings and paintings by Roberts. The resultant large folio editions of 'The Holy Land' and 'Egypt & Nubia' are considered the greatest lithographically illustrated works issued in the 19th century.
Creator: David Roberts (1796-1864, British)
Creation Year: 1846
Dimensions: Height: 16.88 in (42.88 cm)
Width: 23.88 in (60.66 cm)
Medium: Lithograph
Condition: See description below.
Reference #: 5376
This is an original 19th century duotone lithograph entitled "Side View of the Great Sphinx" by David Roberts, from his Egypt and Nubia volumes of the large folio edition, published in London by F. G. Moon in 1849. The lithographs were prepared by Louis Haghe (1806-1885) from drawings and paintings by Roberts. The resultant large folio editions of 'The Holy Land' and 'Egypt & Nubia' are considered the greatest lithographically illustrated works issued in the 19th century.
Creator: David Roberts (1796-1864, British)
Creation Year: 1846
Dimensions: Height: 16.88 in (42.88 cm)
Width: 23.88 in (60.66 cm)
Medium: Lithograph
Condition: See description below.
Reference #: 5376
This is an original 19th century duotone lithograph entitled "Side View of the Great Sphinx" by David Roberts, from his Egypt and Nubia volumes of the large folio edition, published in London by F. G. Moon in 1849. The lithographs were prepared by Louis Haghe (1806-1885) from drawings and paintings by Roberts. The resultant large folio editions of 'The Holy Land' and 'Egypt & Nubia' are considered the greatest lithographically illustrated works issued in the 19th century.
Creator: David Roberts (1796-1864, British)
Creation Year: 1846
Dimensions: Height: 16.88 in (42.88 cm)
Width: 23.88 in (60.66 cm)
Medium: Lithograph
Condition: See description below.
Reference #: 5376
This half-page duotone lithograph depicts the sphinx in profile facing to the right with the great pyramid of Cheops in the background on the left. Several groups of Egyptian men and camels are gathered around the sphinx. The body of the sphinx was still covered in sand at the time of David Roberts' visit in the late 1830's. The print is signed in the plate in the lower right and titled in the lower left, reportedly in Roberts' hand as in his original drawing.
This duotone lithograph is printed in the upper portion of a wove paper sheet with the text description in Roberts' words in the lower half and on the verso. The sheet has wide margins. The portion of the sheet which includes the image and its margin measures 13.75" high and 16.88" wide. Overall the sheet measures 16.88" high and 23.88" wide. There is very faint toning adjacent to the upper edge of the sheet, a faint smudge in the upper portion of the right margin, as well as a barely perceptible vertical crease in the left margin. These issues would be obscured by a mat when framed. The image portion of the print is in excellent condition.
The drawings and watercolours from Roberts' tour of the Holy Land and Egypt were collated together into folios and released over a seven year period by the publisher F.G. Moon from 20 Threadneedle Street London. This lithograph is from the Royal Subscription Edition (1842-1849) with only 500 copies produced per depiction. Louis Haghe (the Belgian engraver and friend of Roberts) worked on all of the lithographs for this series.
David Roberts (1796-1864) was born outside of Edinburgh, Scotland. At age 10 he became a house painter’s apprentice. He continued painting houses and eventually theater scenes in Edinburgh and then in London. His friend, J. M. W. Turner, recognized his artistic talent and encouraged him to become a full-time artist.
In 1839 Roberts traveled to Egypt and then in 1840, through the Holy Land, concluding in Jerusalem. Upon his return to England, F. G. Moon agreed to publish lithographs created by Louis Haghe from Robert’s sketches and watercolors. This publication was highly acclaimed and very popular for its esthetic quality, its historical and topographical accuracy, and Robert’s dramatic depiction of his scenes. Queen Victoria and Charles Dickens were among the subscribers who collected his works. Roberts' and Haghe’s duotone lithographs, often colored, remain extremely sought-after today and have been rising steadily in value.
