Plate 48 Banks of the Jordan - After David Roberts

This composition was drawn by Roberts on 2nd April 1839. The artist had been following a caravan of pilgrims as they were heading towards the River Jordan. He wrote in his journal 'Early in the morning the whole of the pilgrims were in motion; and at 3 o'clock a gun gave signal that the governor (Achmet Aga) was also moving. The long cavalcade extended as far as the eye could reach. All marched on in solemn silence, and the heavy tread of the dense mass was the only sound that broke the stillness of the desert. As we approached the Jordan a general rush took place, and the women broke out into the shrill cry of joy so often heard in Egypt. The governor's carpets were spread on a high bank close to the river, where we could command a view of the whole. I was very much struck with the breadth of the plain of Jericho, and the narrow space in which the deep and rapid steam is cooped up between the steep banks. The scene in the river was most exciting. Young and old, male and female, were in the stream in one promiscuous mass - some nude, some slightly dressed. The dresses I was told were taken home, and reserved for the funeral shrouds of the wearers. One poor young Greek was drowned, and many others narrowly escaped the same fate. The governor gave us a couple of soldiers as guides, and we set out for the Dead Sea, which we reached in about two hours.' [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 January 2nd 1843.
 
Medium: Original First Edition Lithograph, with later hand-colouring on thick woven paper.
 
Half Plate 48.
 
Inscribed l.r. 'David Roberts R.A.' and l.l. 'Banks of the Jordan April 2nd 1839', 23.3 x 33.3cm (lithograph size), mounted (42.5 x 51.5cm). 
 
The lithograph also has the original title 'The Immersion of the Pilgrims' visible with a cut-out on the mount. The original text from publication in 1843 is attached to the back of the mount.
 
References:
 
[1] David Roberts Journal, entry 2nd April 1839.
 
Condition report: very good for its age. A few small markings, please see photos. Recently put into a new acid free mount.