David Roberts, R.A.

Lord Francis Egerton, later 1^st Earl of Ellesmere (1800-1857), purchased from the artist,

The Ellesmere Sale, London, Christie's, 2 April 1870, lot 73, bt Agnew;

with Agnew’s, London,

by whom sold to Alexander Collie (1823-1895), of Kensington Palace Gardens, London;

sale, London, Sotheby's, 24 June 1971, lot 61, bt The Fine Art Society,

with The Fine Art Society, London;

sale, London, Christie's, 2 April 1996, lot 96, bt Agnew's on behalf of the parents of the present owners.

Lithographed:

by Louis Haghe for The Holy Land, London 1843, vol. II, pl. 74 (as Sidon) & London 1855, vol. II, pl. 74, (erroneously as Sidon from the North) 

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

Despite being closely guarded while exploring Sidon (see the previous lot), Roberts was 'determined to sketch’ and in the end he succeeded in making four watercolours of the city that were later lithographed as part of The Holy Land series.¹ Two are represented in this collection and sale (see this and the previous lot). 

In the present drawing, Roberts stands near to the tomb of Zebulon (the last of Jacob and Leah’s six sons), a few yards from a group of people who appear to be enjoying watching the sun setting behind the ancient city. The tallest structure on the skyline is the minaret tower of the Great Omari Mosque, built on the remains of the thirteenth century crusade fortress. 

The watercolour has a long and well recorded history, having been one of those bought directly from the artist by Lord Edgerton (see lot 301 for further information on this collector).  

^1. MS Eastern Journal, National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh