Plate 171 Group of Nubians at Wady Kardassy - After David Roberts
Roberts drew this composition on the 16th November 1838.
'At Wadi Kardassy, Roberts bought some copper coins from a woman, while a man offered him a long sword (which he described as being similar to those carried by the Scottish Highlanders) and another smaller one that he wore hanging from his belt. Keen to strike a bargain like all self-respecting tourists, Roberts also bought from the same man an attractive bracelet that he saw on his left arm, a small hippopotamus-hide shield and a water bottle with a hide cover decorated with shells, all for only 30 shillings, which was a very reasonable price even for that period.
Especially at first, Roberts had not great respect for the Nubians, who to his Western eyes seemed little more than savages. Only long acquaintance with the two Nubians in the crew, both called Hassan, and the slowly dawning realisation of how much those people suffered from harassment by slave traders and compulsory conscription by Pasha Mohammed Ali, led him to mitigate his opinion considerably. Above all, he truly admired the physical appearance and sincere friendliness of the Nubians, "with their well-proportioned bodies and frank, intelligent expressions." However, he was appalled by the women's habit of smearing themselves with butter or castor oil to soften their skin and keep away parasites, mainly because of the nauseous smell that ceaselessly issued from their bodies; otherwise, he considered them splendid, indeed desirable.
Far less prejudiced than he had been only a few days earlier, at Wadi Kardassy Roberts decided to immortalise a group of local inhabitants, many of whom wore a singular hairstyle of very ancient origin. Of the weapons they held, only the spears were part of their usual equipment; they had brought the long swords and shields to sell.' [1]
The drawings and watercolours from this tour by David Roberts 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. This lithograph was published on May 1st 1847.
Medium: Original First Edition Lithograph, with later hand-colouring on thick woven paper.
Half Plate 171.
Inscribed l.r. 'David Roberts R.A. L Haghe Lith' and l.l. 'Group of Nubians - Wady Kardasey', 25.3 x 34.8cm (lithograph size), mounted (40.8 x 49.7cm).
References:
[1] Fabio Bourbon (ed). Yesterday and Today: Egypt. Swan Hill Press: London, 1996, p.102. Translated by A.B.A. Milano.
Condition report: very good for its age. A few small markings and time staining including a faint white line mark on the left hand side, please see photos. Recently put into a new acid free mount.