(Design) David Roberts (1796–1864);
(Lithograph) Louis Haghe (1806–1885)
“Temple of Dakke, in Nubia”, c1846, tinted lithograph
after a drawing by David Roberts executed
on 14th November, 1836, and published in London on 1st
August, 1846, by F G Moon as plate 19 to vol. 1, “The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea,
Arabia, Egypt & Nubia.”
Lithograph printed in bistre coloured ink and hand-tinted
with watercolour (as published) on heavy wove paper with text verso.
Note: The Royal Academy advises:
“Most of the lithographs [in this publication] were
printed with two tint stones, usually blue for sky and neutral for foreground.
Roberts's method of working with transparent washes over pencil outlines was
well suited to reproduction by lithography”
Size: (sheet) 34.3 x 41.3 cm; (image borderline) 25.3
x 35.1 cm.
Inscribed on
plate within the image borderline at lower right: “David Roberts, R. A. – L.
Haghe lith […] DAKKE./ in Nubia/ Nov. 14th 1836.”
Lettered below the image borderline: (centre) “London
Published by F.G. Moon 20 Threadmeedle St Aug 1st 1846/ TEMPLE OF DAKKE, IN
NUBIA.”
Lifetime impression from the first edition (1846).
The Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco reproduce the
text accompanying this lithograph from the first volume of “The Holy Land,
Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt & Nubia”:
“Roberts describes this temple as an exquisite little
ruin, both in the execution of its sculptured reliefs and in their
preservation. The portico, a cella, and the adytum, are covered with emblems of
Isis and Osiris. Casts might be easily taken of the whole of these, and thus
exhibit the most beautiful examples of such Egyptian decoration. The apartments
are not larger than middling-sized English rooms; and such parts as have not
been wilfully destroyed, present a surface as fine as if the work were recently
finished. In its later time it has been used as a Christian church, and there
are traces of some Greek sacred paintings above the pagan symbols: difficult as
they are to trace, enough remains to sh[o]w that as works of art they are
superior to many of those of the early Greek painters found in the Italian
churches.
Dakke is the Pselcis of Pliny and Ptolemy; in Strabo's
time it was an Ethiopian city, relinquished by the Romans, who then bounded the
extent of their conquests in Egypt by the Cataracts. The temple appears to have
been built in different reigns. The designs represent Ergamun, an Ethiopian
king, presenting offerings to the deities of the temple, and his royal title is
preserved on his cartouches or ovals in the hieroglyphics. The cartouches of
Ptolemy Philopater and of his sister Arsinoe, of Euergetes II., who built the
portico, and of Augustus, mark the various periods at which this pet temple
was decorated or enriched by the Egyptians and Romans in the time of the
Ptolemies. Dakke was the stronghold of Ethiopian magic. Hermes Trismegisthus
was adored here, and many Greek ex-votos are inscribed to him on the propylon
and other parts of the temple.”
(https://art.famsf.org/louis-haghe/text-page-egypt-voli-19-temple-dakke-nubia-19633016810)
Condition: a marvellously fresh impression, in near
faultless condition with no significant stains or foxing.
I am selling this gloriously luminous lithograph from
the first edition with hand-colouring as published, for AU$347 (currently US$257.71/EUR212.50/GBP191.77
at the time of this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling
to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed
by some countries.
If you are interested in purchasing this rare and very
beautiful lithograph capturing not only the baking heat of early morning in Nubia,
but also the artist’s direct observation of the Temple of Dakke in 1836, please
contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal
invoice to make the payment easy.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please let me know your thoughts, advice about inaccuracies (including typos) and additional information that you would like to add to any post.