Catalog Archive
Auction 172, Lot 609

"St. Jean d'Acre", Roberts, David

Subject: Acre, Holy Land

Period: 1843 (dated)

Publication: The Holy Land, Egypt and Nubia

Color: Printed Color

Size:
13.7 x 10.1 inches
34.8 x 25.7 cm
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This tinted stone lithographic view shows Acre in the background behind the Mediterranean and in the foreground a sailboat and several smaller rowboats. This is the desirable Moon edition with his imprint "F.G. Moon, 20 Threadneedle St., Sept.r 18th, 1843" below the image. The text below the view describes the architecture of the city. The pin holes used to facilitate the alignment of two stones, carrying black and tan colors, are visible at two corners of the image. The full sheet measures 16.6 x 23.4".

David Roberts, R.A. (1796-1864) was one of the first Europeans to depict the Middle East. Considered a dangerous and barbaric land, it was not until the Napoleonic invasion of Egypt after 1798 that any serious study had been done into the Pharoic culture by Europeans. Sir Richard Burton's infamous penetration of Mecca did not occur until 1858, twenty years after Roberts painted the wonders of the Moslem world and the Holy Land. The sketchbooks from his journeys were one of the most popular publications of its time, allowing Victorian Europeans a peek into the exotic world from the comfort of their parlors.

References:

Condition: B+

Printed on a very sturdy sheet with one spot of soiling in the image, marginal foxing, and a few small chips and tears along the edges of the sheet.

Estimate: $200 - $230

Sold for: $150

Closed on 4/17/2019

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