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Property from the Collection of the late Martin Whiteley Esq. Lots 102-111 Martin Whiteley (1931-1984), House Master of Holland House, Eton College was an avid collector of English watercolours. He enjoyed teaching his boys, pupils and options students about watercolours. Sharing his own collection and using other bequests to Eton College, such as those of Alan Pilkington's (1890-1973). His bequest to the college after his early death made a significant contribution to the college's collection, particularly in the area of topographical watercolours. For examples of other drawings from the Collection exhibited at Christie's see A Genius for Watercolour, Watercolours from the Eton College Collection, January 2003, nos. 6,8,11,24-5,28, 31-2,50-1,56 and 64.

David Roberts, R.A. (1796-1864)

The Hypaethral temple, Philae, Egypt

Details

David Roberts, R.A. (1796-1864)
The Hypaethral temple, Philae, Egypt
signed and dated 'D. Roberts R.A. Octr ... 1838' (lower left) and inscribed 'al Serrer Pharao/or Pharaohs bed Philae/Oct...' (lower right) and further inscribed 'DUMONT' (on the right hand column)
pencil and watercolour heightened with bodycolour
13 5/8 x 9 3/8 in. (34.6 x 23.8 cm.)

Provenance

W. Pateshall Jones; Christie's, London, 1882, catalogue untraced.
Charles Butler and then by descent to his grandson
C.H. A. Butler; Christie's, London, 9 June 1964, lot 93 to Spink, where purchased by Martin Whiteley and by descent in the family.

Special notice

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Lot Essay

The island of Philae lay just beyond the first cataract of the Nile and was a popular destination for 19th Century travellers. Roberts was at Philae on the 30 October-1 November and again on the return journey on 17-19 November. In his journal on 30 October he describes Philae as 'a paradise in the midst of desolation'. On first November he wrote, '... I made a large sketch of the temple called 'Pharaoh's Bed' which seen in every direction is beautiful', it is unlikely that this refers to our actual watercolour. Two other watercolours of Pharoah's Bed are known, which are similar to the view lithographed. The present view was not reproduced as a lithograph.

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

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