Artist: David Roberts (Scottish, 1794-1864)
Engraver: Louis Haghe (British, 1806-1885)
Publisher: Rev George Croly (British, 1780-1860)
Plate 8 ‘Colossus in Front of Temple of Wadi Saboua, Nubia’
Volume II, The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt and Nubia, 1849
Hand-coloured Lithograph
(sight) 9″ high x 13″ wide
(framed) 23” high x 29 ½” wide
Small-Folio, hand-coloured lithograph titled ‘Colossus in Front of Temple of Wadi Saboua, Nubia, 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, Egypt and Nubia, Volume II, 1846-9.
Notes: “IMMEDIATELY in front of the propylon originally stood two fine colossal figures: these were at the end of the avenue of Sphinxes, while two others stood at the commencement of the dromos. Each bore in his left hand a symbolical staff, surmounted with a ram’s head and disk. The hair on each of the Colossi is arranged in the Nubian or Berber fashion, bound with a fillet, in front of which is the asp. The dress around the loins is gathered in front, unlike that which is usually observed in the Ptolemaic, or lower periods. Both of these statues have fallen, but our Artist has placed one standing, to shew the symmetry of its form. Each statue is fourteen feet in height, and about five feet across the shoulders. The Sphinxes of the avenue have the head of Osiris instead of that of the ram, which monstrous emblem is more frequently employed to represent intellectual power.” Commentary by William Brockedon, F.R.S.
Markings: titled in lithograph lower left, ‘Colossus in Front of Temple of Wadi Saboua, Nubia’; signed in litho. Lower right, ‘David Roberts. R.A. – L. Haghe’
Notes: “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.
Condition: Very Good Vintage Condition – uninspected out of frame. For Accuracy Only: there may be some light toning or fox spots commensurate with age. The colours are bright and there is no fading.
Reference: Abbey; Tooley
