Descrizione

48 p. : ill. ; 21 x 28 cm. British artist David Roberts (1796-1864) travelled in Egypt, Syria and the Holy Land in 1838-9 on an expedition to record ancient ruins and modern life. From the sketches made during his tour he produced a magnificent set of watercolours. The 50 included in the present volume represent a beautiful record of the Nile valley as it appeared in the early Victorian period. By this time Roberts was already a seasoned traveller, having painted extensively in northern Europe, Spain and Morocco. Previously he had worked as a scene painter, which would not lend itself to subtlety of finish one might think, but these works are beautifully rendered to capture the nuances of the scenes and the monuments in the wider landscape. He was elected a member of the Royal Academy in 1841. On this expedition he travelled from the Delta to Nubia and back, producing a large quantity of sketches. The paintings reproduced here follow his route, beginning at Alexandria, stopping at Cairo and Giza before continuing upriver, charting major sites, and finishing at Abu Simbel. A map at the back enables the reader to place the pictures in the country’s geography. Commentary on drawings by David Roberts: Rita Bianucci. Brossura editoriale, coperta illustrata a colori in cartone flessibile plastificato lucido. All'interno numerose illustrazioni a colori. Formato oblungo. Codice libreria 3043.