Artwork
Fountain of the Virgin, Nazareth
Fountain of the Virgin, Nazareth is a print by the Romanticist artist David Roberts. It dates from 1839 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1839, *Fountain of the Virgin, Nazareth* is a print by Scottish artist David Roberts. Known for his meticulous records of the Near East, Roberts produced this work from sketches made during his 1838‑1840 travels in the Holy Land. The image captures a quotidian moment at a stone fountain, illustrating the artist’s interest in architecture and landscape within an Orientalist framework.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a bustling gathering around a stone fountain set in a dry, rocky environment. Figures in simple robes and head coverings carry jars, lean on staffs, or sit on the ground, while some attend to animals. The scene conveys everyday life in a remote, arid locale, emphasizing communal activity and the practical use of water sources.
Technique & Style
Roberts employs chiaroscuro to model the terrain, using light and shadow to suggest depth despite the work’s sketch-like quality. The figures are rendered with loose, flowing lines that convey movement, while the rough texture of the ground and the hazy sky evoke a warm, dusty atmosphere. The print reflects the Romantic era’s fascination with travel and exotic locales.
History & Provenance
The print originates from Roberts’ series of Orientalist images produced after his expedition to the Levant between 1838 and 1840. It was published shortly after his return to Europe, contributing to the 19th‑century European appetite for visual accounts of the Holy Land. The work remains part of museum collections documenting the period’s travel literature.
Artist & collection
Artist
David Roberts (24 October 1796 – 25 November 1864) was a Scottish painter. He is especially known for The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt, and Nubia, a prolific series of detailed lithograph prints of Egypt and…
![Advanced guard & Baggage of the Royal artillery landi[ng] a[t] Alexandria en route for India, by T. B. S.](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/t-b-s--advanced-guard-baggage-of-the-royal-artillery-landi-ng-a-t-a--605f6f4d9d8dfe93-w320.webp)
