Plate 100 Remains of the Triumphal Arch Petra - After David Roberts

The Arch-way that Roberts has depicted and included in the title of this work is in the lower Roman Style and is little more than a heap of stones. 'There appears to have been a central arch with two side ones, opening upon the esplanade which extended from the Theatre to the Doric edifice immediately under the rock of the Acropolis. In front a bridge, of which a portion remains, crossed the stream. On the hill are considerable ruins of temples and other public buildings, and portions of the esplanade still sweep round its base'(1). Roberts was in awe of his surroundings in Petra and this is surmised by his journal on the 8th March 1839 when he wrote 'I have often thrown my pencil away in despair of ever being able to convey any idea of this extraordinary place.'
 
The drawings and watercolours from this sketching tour by David Roberts of the Holy Land and Egypt were collated together into folios and released over a seven year period between 1842 and 1849 by the publisher F.G. Moon from 20 Threadneedle Street London. This lithograph is an original First Edition version and was published on the 1st October 1848. Louis Haghe (the Belgian lithographer and friend of Roberts) oversaw and produced all of the lithographs for this series.
 
Medium: Original First Edition Lithograph, Full Plate, hand coloured on thick woven paper.
 
Full Plate 100.
 
Inscribed l.l. 'L Haghe lith', l.r. 'Remains of a Triumphal arch at Petra, March 8th 1839, David Roberts', 33.4 x 49.4 cm (picture size), mounted.
 
Condition report: excellent condition. Small pin size black mark on the hills to the left. The mount is has a small tear at the top in the centre and is creased in the corners as shown in photos.
 
References:
 
(1) Nachman Ran (ed). The Holy Land. Studio Editions: London, 1989.