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Plate 143 Head Of The Great Sphinx, Pyramids Of Giza - After David Roberts
  • Plate 143 Head Of The Great Sphinx, Pyramids Of Giza - After David Roberts

    Sphinxes were common throughout the whole of Ancient Egypt and were effigies of the ruling pharaoh or a protecting deity. The most famous sphinx is the one depicted in this lithograph, the Sphinx of Giza. This incredible monument of the Egyptian civilization was covered in sand until it was excavated in 1798 by archaeologists accompanying Napolean's forces. (1) The Sphinx was restored substantially between 1925 and 1936 giving its modern appearance. The date on the lithograph is almost certainly incorrect with Roberts being at this location six months earlier, on the 17th January 1839.

     

    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 August 1846. 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 with original tinted colouring on thick woven paper.

     

    Full Plate 143.

     

    Inscribed l.l. 'The Great Sphinx, Pyramids of Gizeh, July 17th 1839, David Roberts R.A.', 29 x 52.5 cm (picture size), mounted.

     

    Condition report: please see photographs of the lithograph which help to give an indication of condition. There are a few foxing marks and scuff marks on the sheet. There are possible past tears in the sky where there are white marks on the right hand side.

     

    References:

     

    (1) Fabio Bourbon (ed). Yesterday and Today: Egypt. Swan Hill Press: London, 1996, p.250. Translated by A.B.A., Milano. 

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