Plate 99 Mount Hor, From the cliffs encircling Petra - After David Roberts
Roberts drew this composition on the 5th March 1839.
'Made impatient by emotion, Roberts wished at all costs to climb to the peak of the hill that dominated the campground in order to take a first look at the mythical city of Petra, but his hopes were soon dashed by a further series of hills - completely unlooked for - which stood in the sight of the spot. The landscape, in any case, was spectacular, and the English [Scottish] artist felt wholly repaid for the effort involved in reaching the top of the hill. Beneath his feet were the ravines of El Ghor and Wadi Arabah, the rocks of Mt. Seir glittered in the splendid sunset, and in the distance, directly before him, towered the majestic bulk of Mt. Her, at the foot of which the people of Israel pitched their tents after the flight from Egypt. It was here that the destiny of Aaron was fulfilled, when the Lord ordered Moses to lead him to the summit of the mountain. "And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them upon Elea'zar his son; and Aaron died there on top of the mount: and Moses and Elea'zar came down from the mount. And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even al the house of Israel" (Book of Numbers, 20, 28-29).' [1]
Roberts wrote in his journal on the 5th March 1839 'Started early, as usual. About 12 o'clock we struck into a chain of mountains on our right, forming part of the range of Mount Hot. At 3 o'clock we pitched our tents at the entrance to Wady Mousa; and anxious to get a glimpse of Petra, I ascended the mountain and found another hill intervened, but the view of the valley forming the ancient bed of the Jordan was magnificent.' [2]
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 August 18th 1843.
Medium: Original First Edition Lithograph, with later hand-colouring on thick woven paper.
Half Plate 99.
Inscribed lower centre 'David Roberts R.A.' and l.r. 'Gebil Hor March 5th 1839', 24.5 x 34.3cm (lithograph size), mounted (40.7 x 49.7cm).
References:
[1] Fabio Bourbon (ed). Yesterday and Today: The Holy Land. Swan Hill Press: London, 1996, p.69. Translated by A.B.A. Milano.
[2] David Roberts's Journal, 5th March 1839.
Condition report: very good for its age. A few small markings and time staining, please see photos. Recently put into a new acid free mount.