Visions of a Levant that isn’t coming back. Plates from drawings by Scottish artist David Roberts (1796-1864). Most of these being of Sinai but not entirely. All of them taken from the website of Alexandre Antique Prints, Maps and Books.

*Approach to the Temple of Wady Saboua, Nubia.* 1847. Part of a series of plates of David Robert’s work in the Levant that were published by F. G. Moon in London. Tinted lithograph after David Roberts. Louis Haghe, lithographer. Image © 2023 Alexandre Maps and Books. Artwork itself in the public domain due to age. via https://www.alexandremaps.com/pages/books/P518/david-roberts/approach-to-the-temple-of-wady-saboua-nubia

*Ascent of the Lower Range of Sinai.* 1844. Part of a series of plates of David Robert’s work in the Levant that were published by F. G. Moon in London. Tinted lithograph after David Roberts. Louis Haghe, lithographer. Image © 2023 Alexandre Maps and Books. Artwork itself in the public domain due to age. via https://www.alexandremaps.com/pages/books/P481/david-roberts/ascent-of-the-lower-range-of-sinai

*Askelon.* 1842. Part of a series of plates of David Robert’s work in the Levant that were published by F. G. Moon in London. Tinted lithograph after David Roberts. Louis Haghe, lithographer. Image © 2023 Alexandre Maps and Books. Artwork itself in the public domain due to age. via https://www.alexandremaps.com/pages/books/P489/david-roberts/askelon

*Bab en Nasr, or Gate of Victory, and Mosque of El Hakim, Cairo.* 1848. Part of a series of plates of David Robert’s work in the Levant that were published by F. G. Moon in London. Tinted lithograph after David Roberts. Louis Haghe, lithographer. Image © 2023 Alexandre Maps and Books. Artwork itself in the public domain due to age. via https://www.alexandremaps.com/pages/books/P526/david-roberts/bab-en-nasr-or-gate-of-victory-and-mosque-of-el-hakim-cairo

*A Colossal Statue at the Entrance to the Temple of Luxor.* 1847. Part of a series of plates of David Robert’s work in the Levant that were published by F. G. Moon in London. Tinted lithograph after David Roberts. Louis Haghe, lithographer. Image © 2023 Alexandre Maps and Books. Artwork itself in the public domain due to age. via https://www.alexandremaps.com/pages/books/P442/david-roberts/a-colossal-statue-at-the-entrace-to-the-temple-of-luxor

*Colossi at Wady Saboua.* 1847. Part of a series of plates of David Robert’s work in the Levant that were published by F. G. Moon in London. Tinted lithograph after David Roberts. Louis Haghe, lithographer. Image © 2023 Alexandre Maps and Books. Artwork itself in the public domain due to age. via https://www.alexandremaps.com/pages/books/P441/david-roberts/colossi-at-wady-saboua

*Encampment of the Aulad-Sa’id.* 1844. Part of a series of plates of David Robert’s work in the Levant that were published by F. G. Moon in London. Tinted lithograph after David Roberts. Louis Haghe, lithographer. Image © 2023 Alexandre Maps and Books. Artwork itself in the public domain due to age. via https://www.alexandremaps.com/pages/books/P480/david-roberts/encampment-of-the-aulad-said

*Fortress of Akabah, Arabia Peteraea.*1844. Part of a series of plates of David Robert’s work in the Levant that were published by F. G. Moon in London. Tinted lithograph after David Roberts. Louis Haghe, lithographer. Image © 2023 Alexandre Maps and Books. Artwork itself in the public domain due to age. via https://www.alexandremaps.com/pages/books/P519/david-roberts/fortress-of-akabah-arabia-peteraea

*Fortress of Ibrim, Nubia.* 1847. Part of a series of plates of David Robert’s work in the Levant that were published by F. G. Moon in London. Tinted lithograph after David Roberts. Louis Haghe, lithographer. Image © 2023 Alexandre Maps and Books. Artwork itself in the public domain due to age. via https://www.alexandremaps.com/pages/books/P528/david-roberts/fortress-of-ibrim-nubia

David Roberts first sketched in his journals “on the spot” the vaious subjects which, on returning to London, he transcribed into finished paintings and watercolors. These then formed the basis of the lithographs drawn and printed by Louis Haghe. It is interesting to note that in some instances Roberts’ original drawings were twice or three times the size of the published print, which indicated the skill of Haghe and his assistants in transferring Roberts’ designs onto lithographic stones.

Egypt, close up enough to hear the camel bells as the caravan heads for the headwaters of the Nile. One of an island off Sinai. From “Egypt & Nubia From Drawings Made On The Spot,” a series of over 200 lithographs that was published in the 1840’s. Also one of the pyramids lithographed from an 1839 drawing by David Roberts and lithographed by Louis Haghe in 1842.

"The mosque of El Hakim and environs, Cairo." 1849. — “The mosque of El Hakim and environs, Cairo.” 1849. Colored lithograph. Louis Haghe, lithographer after a watercolor by David Roberts. Collection of the Wellcome Trust. Image from Wellcome Images, a website operated by Wellcome Trust. Cc0 License 4.0. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coloured_lithograph_by_Louis_Haghe_after_David_Roberts,_1849_Wellcome_V0049360.jpg

"Temple at Philae, Egypt." 1840's. — “Temple at Philae, Egypt.” 1840’s. Colored lithograph. Louis Haghe, lithographer after a watercolor by David Roberts. Collection of the Wellcome Trust. Image from Wellcome Images, a website operated by Wellcome Trust. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Temple_at_Philae,_Egypt._Tinted_lithograph_by_Louis_Haghe_af_Wellcome_V0049324.jpg

'Isle of Graia Gulf of Akabah Arabia Petraea." 1840's. — ‘Isle of Graia Gulf of Akabah Arabia Petraea,” from “The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt and Nubia.” 1840’s. Retouched with smudges removed etc. Colored lithograph. Louis Haghe, lithographer after a watercolor by David Roberts. Collection of the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Digital ID # ppmsca.08343. http://www.LOC.gov. Retouched by Gerardm and Durova. In the public domain in the United States because the artists have been dead over 70 years. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Isle_of_Graia3.jpg

"Temple of Dandour - Nubia." 1849. — “Temple of Dandour – Nubia.” 1849. Colored lithograph. Louis Haghe, lithographer after a watercolor by David Roberts. Collection of the Wellcome Trust. Cc0 License 4.0. via https://wellcomecollection.org/works/z23btmt6

*View of the Great Pyramids of Giza*. British. Hand colored lithograph with the view having been drawn by David Roberts in 1839 and lithographed by Louis Haghe in 1842. Image © 2025 Geographicus Rare Antique Maps. Fair use license. via https://www.geographicus.com/P/AntiqueMap/PyramidsofGeezeh-roberts-1848

It is very possible that the View of the Great Pyramids of Giza added today is from the same collection as the other ones in this blog post. They would release the lithographs one by one over the course of a few years and then put together all or most of them as a portfolio or book to sell separately so hard to get an exact date on them. 1840s for sure.

The Levant and further east through a romantic Scottish veil by early Victorian painter David Roberts (1796-1864).

"Cairo." Undated. — “Cairo.” Undated. Painting. In the public domain in the United States because the artist has been dead over 70 years. via http://www.davidrobertslithographs.com/whoisdr1.html

"Hindoo (Hindu) architecture, a composition." — “Hindoo (Hindu) architecture, a composition.” 1829. Oil on panel. Image © National Galleries of Scotland. Photo credit: Antonia Reeve. Fair use license. via https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/91247/0/hindoo-architecture-composition?overlay=download

Interior of the Mosque of Sultan Hassan, which was completed in 1359. — “Interior of the Mosque of Sultan Hassan, Cairo, which was completed in 1359, during the Mamluk era in Egypt. Undated. Lithograph. In the public domain because the artists have been dead over 70 years. via http://www.salongen.no/619/

Many if not most of the artist’s work were sold as lithographs. Some of his of Ancient Egypt I used in an earlier post which you might want to look at.