"The Doorway of Baalbec": A David Roberts ' 19th Century Hand Colored Lithograph, 1849

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"The Doorway of Baalbec" is a 19th century full folio sized duotone lithograph, representing plate 81 in the Egypt and … Read more "The Doorway of Baalbec" is a 19th century full folio sized duotone lithograph, representing plate 81 in the Egypt and Nubia volumes of David Roberts’ large folio edition, published in London by F. G. Moon in 1849. The lithographs were prepared by Louis Haghe (1806-1885) from drawings and paintings by Roberts. The resultant large folio editions of 'The Holy Land' and 'Egypt & Nubia' are considered the greatest lithographically illustrated works issued in the 19th century.

Roberts toured Baalbec on May 7, 1838 (the date shown in the plate in the lower left). He described it as "perhaps, the most elaborate work, as well as the most exquisite in its detail, of anything of its kind in the world. Even independently of the beauty of the sculpture, and its excellent preservation, we are lost in wonder at the size of the stones, and at the nature of the machinery by which such masses were raised.

The print depicts the imposing entrance to the Temple of Bacchus with its mammoth cornerstone perched precariously above the steps below. Egyptian men are seen conversing around the entrance and a group are depicted in the distance in the center of the temple.

The print is presented in a antiqued gold-colored wood frame with a dark grey mat with a lower cutout revealing the title. There are very faint spots in the upper portions and the left margin. The print is otherwise in excellent condition.

David Roberts (1796-1864) was born outside of Edinburgh, Scotland. At age 10 he became a house painter’s apprentice. He continued painting houses and eventually theater scenes in Edinburgh and then in London. He was befriended by J. M. W. Turner, who recognized his artistic talent, and encouraged him to become a full-time artist. By 1830 he was completely focused on his art. His first major project was to create sketches and paintings depicting the sights he saw on a trip along the Rhine River in Germany and to Spain. In 1839 he travelled to Egypt and then in 1840, through the Holy Land, concluding in Jerusalem. Upon his return to England, F. G. Moon agreed to publish lithographs created by Louis Haghe from Robert’s sketches and watercolors. This publication was highly acclaimed and very popular for its esthetic quality, its historical and topographical accuracy, and Robert’s dramatic depiction of his scenes. Queen Victoria and Charles Dickens were among the subscribers who collected his works. Robert’s and Haghe’s duotone lithographs, often colored, remain extremely sought-after today and have been rising steadily in value. See less