Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 8

David Roberts
Temple of Kalabshi, Egypt: David Roberts' 19th C. Hand-colored Lithograph

1847

About the Item

This is an original 19th century hand-colored lithograph entitled "Portico of the Temple of Kalabshi" by David Roberts, from his Egypt and Nubia volumes of the large folio edition, published in London by F. G. Moon in 1847. 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. The print depicts a view of the magnificent ruins of the Temple of Kalabshi (also know as Kalabasha and Temple of Mandulis) in Egypt, along the West Bank of the Nile, south of Aswan. It was originally built around 30 BC, during the reign of Augustus Caesar (also known as Octavian), the first Roman emperor, who is responsible for converting Rome from a republic to an empire. The temple was a tribute to Manduli, a Nubian sun god. In modern times, similar to the project that relocated Abu Simple, the temple of Kalabsha was relocated after the Aswan High Dam was built, to protect it from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. A group of Egyptian men, dressed in their colorful native garb are seen in conversation to the left of the main portion of the structure. On the far left, two additional men are standing atop an elevated stone slab, somewhat precariously supported by a single column. Fragments of blocks and portions of columns lie in the foreground. The lithograph is signed in plate in the lower left, along with the lithographer and the title is in the lower right. These are reportedly in Roberts' own hand written script, as it appeared on the original sketch. This striking hand-colored lithograph print is printed on wove paper with wide margins. The sheet measures 17" high and 23.75" wide. There are small, very faint faint spots in the upper portion of the right margin, but the print is otherwise in very good 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. 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 he 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.
  • Creator:
    David Roberts (1796-1864, British)
  • Creation Year:
    1847
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 17 in (43.18 cm)Width: 23.75 in (60.33 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Framing:
    Framing Options Available
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Alamo, CA
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: # 39331stDibs: LU1173210314272
More From This SellerView All
You May Also Like
  • Hans Schleger 'Zero' London Transport Coach Stop c. 1970 Original Poster
    By Hans Schleger Zero
    Located in London, GB
    To see our other original vintage travel posters including more pre-war London Transport posters, scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this Sell...
    Category

    1970s Interior Prints

    Materials

    Lithograph

  • Hans Schleger 'Zero' London Transport Bus Stop c. 1970 Original Poster
    By Hans Schleger Zero
    Located in London, GB
    To see our other original vintage travel posters including more pre-war London Transport posters, scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this Seller" - or send us a message if you cannot find the poster you want. Hans Schleger 'Zero' (1898-1976) London Transport Coach Stop Poster Screenprint poster c. 1970 16x17.8 cm Printed for London Transport These posters were designed to be used as temporary stops when the usual stop required amendment for instance owing to road works or similar events. Printed on paper they were designed to be posted up at the alternative site, possibly over a different sort of stop (bus stop, coach stop, request stop, etc.). Working with Edward Johnson's special typeface created for London Transport, Hans Schleger - or Zero as he signed himself - adopted the famous roundel used by London Underground for use at Bus Stops. Born in Germany, Schleger was an influential graphic designer. After serving during the First World War, he studied at the Berlin Kunstgewerbeschule, being taught by Emil Orlik. The same year Walter Gropius founded the Bauhaus at Weimar and Schleger learned the same principles of breaking down the barriers between architecture, design, fine art and craft. A firm believer in the Bauhaus principles of simplicity in design and reduction to essentials, these may be seen in the clean lines of the roundel. In 1924 he moved to New York, applying Modernism to American advertising, and then returned to Berlin in 1929 working for the British advertising agency Crawfords, where he met Edward McKnight Kauffer who introduced him to Jack Beddington the head of advertising at Shell Mex...
    Category

    1970s Modern Interior Prints

    Materials

    Lithograph

  • Hans Schleger 'Zero' London Transport Coach Stop Request Original Poster
    By Hans Schleger Zero
    Located in London, GB
    To see our other original vintage travel posters including more pre-war London Transport posters, scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this Sell...
    Category

    1970s Interior Prints

    Materials

    Lithograph

  • Original Perlach Maccaroni - Spaghetti vintage poster pasta
    By Richard Roth
    Located in Spokane, WA
    An original vintage poster of Perlach Macaroni Spaghetti created by Richard Roth for the German pasta brand, Perlach in the 1940s 1. The poster features an anthropomorphic pasta man...
    Category

    1940s Art Deco Interior Prints

    Materials

    Lithograph

  • Original York Treasurer's House vintage British Railways poster
    Located in Spokane, WA
    Original British Railways vintage poster: York (England). Professionally linen-backed in excellent condition, ready to frame. Printer: Jordison & CO. LTD, London. Printed in Great Britain. Published by British Railways. Size is 25" x 40". Shown is the Grand Hallway in the Treasurer’s House. This vintage York - Treasurer's House British Railways poster...
    Category

    1950s American Realist Interior Prints

    Materials

    Lithograph

  • Original Le Voci dei Juke-Box San Remo Teatro vintage poster
    Located in Spokane, WA
    Le Voci dei JUKE-BOX. Original Teatro Della Palme, Citta di San Remo vintage poster. Conservation linen backed in very good condition, ready to frame. Fold marks restored. Sunda...
    Category

    1950s American Modern More Prints

    Materials

    Lithograph

Recently Viewed

View All