Absalom's Pillar, Valley of Jehoshaphat - David Roberts
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Description
A detailed watercolour study of the ancient Absalom's Pillar in Jerusalem, captured by David Roberts during his 1839 expedition to the Near East.
David Roberts, a Scottish painter known for his meticulous documentation of architectural sites, produced this work during his extensive travels through the Near East in 1839. The image depicts the monolithic tomb structure known as Absalom's Pillar, situated in the Kidron Valley, also referred to as the Valley of Jehoshaphat, just outside the walls of Jerusalem.
Roberts employs a delicate application of watercolour over graphite, a technique that allows for the precise rendering of the stone textures and the arid, rocky terrain. The composition balances the monumental scale of the ancient tomb against the small, human figures in the foreground, which provide a sense of proportion and scale. The soft, muted palette reflects the harsh, sun-bleached environment of the region, while the light washes of colour suggest the atmospheric conditions of the desert.
This work is part of the extensive series of sketches and watercolours that Roberts later published as lithographs in his multi-volume work, 'The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt, and Nubia'. His approach to these subjects was driven by a desire for accuracy, often capturing the specific architectural details of the monuments he encountered. The inclusion of local figures in traditional dress adds a narrative element to the scene, grounding the historical architecture in the contemporary life of the region during the mid-nineteenth century. The work remains a primary visual record of the site as it appeared before later archaeological interventions and urban development altered the surrounding topography.
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Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Absalom's Pillar, Valley of Jehoshaphat - David Roberts
Artist Biography
David Roberts
In 1838 he sailed for Egypt and spent the next two years travelling through the Middle East, filling sketchbooks with drawings of temples, mosques, ruins and desert landscapes that almost no British artist had recorded before. To enter the mosques he had to shave off his sideburns, leave his hog-hair brushes behind (the pig being unclean), and wear traditional Arab clothing while he worked. He was one of the first Europeans allowed to paint inside a mosque.
The sketches became The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt and Nubia, a series of 247 lithograph plates produced in collaboration with the printer Louis Haghe between 1842 and 1849. He funded the project through advance subscriptions, soliciting them personally. Queen Victoria was subscriber number one. Her complete set is still in the Royal Collection.
The lithographs gave Europeans their first detailed visual record of the ancient Near East. They were bought as art, used as reference by scholars, and shaped the Western imagination of Egypt and Palestine for the rest of the century.
His personal life was less composed. His wife Margaret became an alcoholic and in 1831 he sent her back to Scotland to be cared for by friends. He raised their daughter Christine largely alone. He was elected to the Royal Academy in 1841, a considerable achievement for a man who had started painting houses, and worked steadily until his death in 1864.
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