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DAVID ROBERTS, R.A. | One of two Colossal Statues of Rameses II. Entrance to the Temple of Luxor
Estimate
10,000 - 15,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- Roberts
- One of two Colossal Statues of Rameses II. Entrance to the Temple of Luxor
- indistinctly signed David Roberts R.A. lower right, inscribed as titled lower left
- watercolour over pencil, heightened with bodycolour
- 32.9 by 25 cm., 13 by 9 3/4 in.
Provenance
Hildegard Fritz-Denneville Fine Arts, London
Purchased from the above by the present owner in 1975
Lithographed: by Louis Haghe for Egypt and Nubia (vol. I), in The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Egypt and Nubia, London 1849, pl. 33 (with the above title) & 1856, vol. IV, p. 158 (as Colossal Statue at the Entrance to the Temple of Luxor)
Purchased from the above by the present owner in 1975
Lithographed: by Louis Haghe for Egypt and Nubia (vol. I), in The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Egypt and Nubia, London 1849, pl. 33 (with the above title) & 1856, vol. IV, p. 158 (as Colossal Statue at the Entrance to the Temple of Luxor)
Condition
The sheet has been laid down and there is a mount stains around the extreme edges that is covered by the current mount. Some of the more delicate pigments have faded, including the signature. The artist has used a lot of bodycolour which has survived well.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
On his journey up the Nile, Roberts visited the Temple of Luxor on the 23 October 1838, and he noted in his journal that ‘At each side of the gateway there are two colossal sitting figures buried up to the chest and sadly mauled like everything else that came within reach of the hammer.’ On the return journey there was more time to make drawings and once he had arrived back at Luxor in late November he spent several days making drawings in the vicinity. On the 1 December he wrote ‘December and the weather like our summer! Commenced and finished at Luxor…’ (MS Eastern Journal, National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh).
We are very grateful to Briony Llewellyn for her help when cataloguing this lot.
We are very grateful to Briony Llewellyn for her help when cataloguing this lot.