Artist: David Roberts (Scottish, 1794-1864)
Engraver: Louis Haghe (British, 1806-1885)
Publisher: Rev George Croly (British, 1780-1860)
‘Approach to Petra – An Ancient Watchtower Commanding the Valley of El Ghor’
Small-Folio, Plate 93, Hand-Coloured Lithograph
Volume III, The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt and Nubia, 1849
(sight) 8 ¾” high x 12 ¼” wide
(framed) 23” high x 29 ½”
Description: A curiously wind-carved rock overhangs on the left side, atop is an ancient watchtower once used to safeguard the entrance to Petra. Around the rock, near the artist, is a caravan of people, camels, makeshift tents, and goods.
Notes: Originally sketched on Feb. 5th 1839 on a break as Roberts caravan approached Petra. Robert notes in his journal the guides had difficulty gaining access to the area as the local tribe was denying entry, and while they set about coming to a monetary agreement to allow safe passage he set down and recorded the view. (Ballantine/Roberts, pp. 120)
Summary: Small-Folio, hand-coloured lithograph titled ‘Approach to Petra – An Ancient Watchtower Commanding the Valley of El Ghor’, the original drawn by Scottish artist David Roberts (1794-1864) Royal Academy, and transposed to lithograph by Louis Haghe (1806-1885) and published in The Holy Land, Volume III, 1849. “In 1853, unsold sets of Roberts’ lithographs were put up at auction, “and the stones from which the prints had been worked were ALL DESTROYED in the Rooms during the progress of the sale” (Abbey, 340-41). Tooley 401. Abbey 385.” (Bauman)
Roberts access to these ancient sites was rare being the first artist to traverse the Near East East and reaction to it was widely praised and celebrated.
And where upon its ancient guard
Thy Rock, El Ghor, is standing yet, –
Looks from its turrets desertward,
And keeps the watch that God has set.
…
Rock of the desert, prophet sung!
How grew its shadowing pile at length,
A symbol, in the Hebrew tongue,
Of God’s eternal love and strength.
Arabia: El Ghor
The Rock in El Ghor
John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892)
From
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed.
Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes
Asia: Vols. XXI-XXIII, 1876-69
Markings: titled and dated in lithograph lower right, ‘Approach to Petra – An Ancient Watchtower Commanding the Valley of El Ghor’ ‘Feby. 5th. 1839’
Condition: Very Good Vintage Condition – no damage, no restoration; uninspected out of frame. For accuracy: there are two light fox spots in the sky upper right otherwise the colours are bright and there is no fading.
