Dendera. by Roberts, David; Louis Haghe - 1849.

London:: F.G. Moon,, 1849.. Very good condition. Hand colored lithograph from the deluxe edition of Robert's 'The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia', the greatest lithographically illustrated work of the 19th century. This hand tinted lithograph was produced by Louis Haghe, the finest lithographic draughtsman of his time, and probably colored by him in a very small edition. David Roberts (1796 - 1864) was a Scottish painter who traveled to Egypt in 1838 on the recommendation of his friend and colleague, J. M. W. Turner. He went up the Nile River through Egypt and the Holy Land, and arrived in Jerusalem in 1839. Roberts left from Beirut in May of 1839, having traveled through Lebanon.Roberts recorded his impressions of landscapes, temples, and people in a series of sketchbooks and watercolors, and, working with Haghe as lithographer produced these lavish plates. The 'Holy Land', issued over a period of 7 years from 1842 to 1849, was funded through advance subscriptions, Queen Victoria being the first subscriber. The image depicts the massive entry gate to the temple of Dendera, sunk deeply into the sand, with a few local people gathered underneath in the shade. Dendera is located on the west bank of the upper Nile; it was the stop between Luxor and Cairo on Roberts' Egyptian route. Cut to the edge of the image and mounted on card in imitation of watercolors, as issued. Image, 13 1/2 x 9 1/2"; card measures 20 3/4 x 17". Card slightly chipped lower left corner. A stunning image, among the most popular of famous sites in the Near East. OCLC: 927472856.