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This lithograph depicts an ornate mosque in Boulak situated on the Nile River in Cairo, Egypt as it appeared at the time Roberts visited in the late 1830's. Boulak, currently a suburb of Cairo, is located on the right bank of the Nile with about five thousand inhabitants. Boulak was previously on an island, but landfill filled in a canal along one edge. It then became an important port access to Cairo. The custom-house was located here where fees and taxes were paid on imported merchandise which was brought along the Nile into Cairo.
This duotone lithograph is printed in the upper half of a wove paper sheet with the text description in the lower portion and on the verso. The sheet has wide margins. The portion of the sheet which includes the image and its margin measures 17.5" high and 16.75" wide. Overall the sheet measures 23.75" high and 16.75" wide. There is minimal toning adjacent to the upper, lower and right edges and a faint vertical crease in the left margin. All of this would not be visible behind a mat at framing. The image and text portions of the print are in excellent condition.
The drawings and watercolors 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.
