Plate 52 The Chapel of St Saba - After David Roberts
Roberts drew this composition on the 5th April 1839.
'The day after his arrival at St. Saba, David Roberts asked for and receive permission to sketch the chapel of the Monastery of St. Saba. With great courtesy, the monks even allowed the artist to complete his work after the religious services had begun. The setting, quite ancient, was heavily decorated in adherence to the ornate style found in so many Greek Orthodox churches. One of the frescoes, which depicts Judgement Day, was the object of particular devotion, while figures of saints adorned virtually the entire surface of the pillars. Just prior to David Roberts's visit, the Russian government, which was particularly sensitive to the welfare of Orthodox churches throughout the Middle East, had sent a huge number of very fine icons to St. Saba, and had also paid for the restoration of the entire building and its adjacent structures. Around noon on the 5th April, the travellers bid the monks farewell, having left an offering for other, penniless travellers who might happen that way. They then set off for Bethlehem, which they reached after a three-hour ride.' [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 8th 1843.
Medium: Original First Edition Lithograph, with later hand-colouring on thick woven paper.
Half Plate 52.
Inscribed l.l. 'David Roberts R.A.' and l.r. 'Chapel of the Convent of St Saba April 5th 1839', 24.1 x 33.8cm (lithograph size), mounted (42.4 x 51.3cm).
The original title is visible through a cut out on the mount 'The Chapel of St. Saba' and the original text from the publication in 1843 is included attached to the back of the mount.
References:
[1] Fabio Bourbon (ed). Yesterday and Today: The Holy Land. Swan Hill Press: London, 1996, p.155. Translated by A.B.A. Milano.
Condition report: good for its age. A few small markings and time staining particularly on the left hand side, please see photos. Recently put into a new acid free mount, there is a mark on the mount in the bottom right hand corner.