Convent of St. Saba - David Roberts
Archival giclée
Frames arrive ready to hang
Secure checkout
Made to order
Description
A detailed watercolour by David Roberts depicting the Mar Saba monastery in the Judaean Desert, captured during his 1839 travels.
David Roberts travelled extensively through the Near East in 1839, documenting the architecture and geography of the region with precision. This watercolour depicts the Mar Saba monastery, situated in the Judaean Desert. The composition captures the sheer scale of the Kidron Valley, where the stone structures of the convent appear small against the rugged, arid terrain. Roberts utilised a muted palette of ochre, grey, and pale blue to convey the harsh light and dry atmosphere of the desert environment.
His approach to this subject reflects the nineteenth-century interest in documenting historical and religious sites. The artist employed a high vantage point, which allows the viewer to observe the winding path leading towards the monastery. Small figures are visible on the trail, providing a sense of scale to the massive rock formations. The work demonstrates his ability to balance architectural detail with the vastness of the natural surroundings. Through careful application of wash and fine line work, he rendered the textures of the limestone cliffs and the distant horizon with clarity.
This piece is representative of the sketches produced during his tour, which were later used as the basis for his lithographic publications. By focusing on the interplay between the built environment and the geological features, Roberts created a record of the site that remains valuable for its observational accuracy. The work avoids dramatic artifice, preferring a measured depiction of the monastery in its remote setting. It offers a glimpse into the travel practices of the era, where artists acted as visual chroniclers of distant lands for a British audience eager to see the world beyond their borders.
Return policy
Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
Shipping
We ship worldwide, printing at the production hub nearest to your delivery address. Delivery times and costs vary by destination — you'll see the options available to you at checkout.
Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Care and materials
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
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
Convent of St. Saba - 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.
Why Choose Us ?
Damage-free delivery guarantee
Fast Shipping
Museum-Quality Materials
You May Also Like