David Roberts, R.A.

Probably The Artist’s Studio Sale, London, Christie's, 13 May 1865, lot 308, bt Willis;

Henry Sanford Bicknell (1818-1881), Cavendish House, Clapham Common, the artist’s son-in-law,

his executor’s sale, London, Christie's, 7 April 1881, lot 235, bt Thibeaudeau;

Mrs Alfred Morrison, née Mabel Chermside (1847-1933),

her sale, London, Christie's, 28 January 1899, lot 32, bt Agnew;

The Hanbury family,

sale, London, Sotheby's, 21 November 1985, lot 47, bt Agnew's on behalf of the parents of the present owners.

Oxford, The Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology, on long-term loan, 2015 - 2021  

This large-scale drawing shows the beautiful Hellenistic facade of El Khasne (the Treasury) which was carved out of the rock to serve as a tomb for the Nabataean King Aretas III (who ruled from 84 to circa 59 BC) but derives its name from the legend that an Egyptian pharaoh hid his treasure here. On the drawing’s verso Roberts has made detailed pencil studies of elements of the facade such as the pediments, the Corinthian capitals and the frieze.

This exceptional monument was the first that Roberts and his party explored at Petra and he noted in his journal ‘I cannot say whether I was most surprised at the building or its extraordinary position. It stands, as it were, in an immense niche in the rock and the fine colour of the stone and perfect preservation of the minute details, give it the appearance of having been recently finished.’¹ 

This drawing, impressive for its scale and detail, is connected to a lithograph of this subject which was later included in The Holy Land series under the title 'Petra'.²

^1. J. Ballantine, The Life of David Roberts, London 1866, p. 121 

^2. The Holy Land, London 1849, vol. III, pl. 92, & London 1856, vol. III, pl. 92