View of Luxor, Egypt

Details

David Roberts, R.A. (1796-1864)
View of Luxor, Egypt
signed 'David Roberts R.A.' (lower right) and inscribed 'LUXOR' and 'Thebes/Luxor ...' (lower left)
pencil and watercolour, heightened with touches of bodycolour
6¼ x 9½ in. (15.9 x 24.1 cm.)

Provenance

Possibly David Roberts studio sale; Christie's, London, 13 March 1865, lot 92 (22 gns to Agnew's).
Possibly Anon. sale [M.H. Milner]; Christie's, London, 24 July 1911, lot 71 with 'Fountain at Cana', (4 gns to Bedford).
New York, auction sale 1950s.
Ritchie's auctioneers; Toronto, Canada, 3 December 1996, lot 181.
with Spink-Leger, London, 1997.

Exhibited

London, Spink-Leger, Annual Exhibition of Watercolours and Drawings 20 May-6 June 1997, no. 45.

Engraved

Probably preliminary version, L. Haghe, lithograph, The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt and Nubia, from drawings taken on the spot by David Roberts, R.A., 1846, vol. I, pl. 15 as 'Ruins of Luxor from the South West'.

Special notice

Christie's Interest in Property Consigned for Auction. From time to time, Christie's may offer a lot which it owns in whole or in part. This is such lot. No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

Roberts was in Luxor between 27 November and 4 December 1838. He made a number of sketches which he later worked up and the present watercolour was executed circa 1840. It was engraved, with some minor changes, by Louis Haghe. The ruins of Luxor are viewed across the Nile from the South West and are more distant than those in the lithograph. The watercolour related to this lithograph is in the collection of The Marquis of Lansdowne, Bowood, Wiltshire. Two other watercolours depict Luxor from this vantage point.

A view of Luxor was sold Christie's, London, 2 April 1996, lot 90 £36,700.

We are grateful to Briony Llewellyn for her help in preparing this catalogue entry.

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