Artwork
Mount Tabor from the Plain of Esdraelon
Mount Tabor from the Plain of Esdraelon 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. Created in 1839, this lithographic print portrays Mount Tabor rising above the expansive Plain of Esdraelon.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1839, this lithographic print portrays Mount Tabor rising above the expansive Plain of Esdraelon. A group of figures—some on horseback, others standing or seated—occupy the foreground, while the muted sky and distant mountain convey a tranquil, open landscape.
Subject & Meaning
The composition juxtaposes a prominent biblical mountain with everyday activity on the plain, suggesting a connection between the sacred geography of the Holy Land and the ordinary lives of its inhabitants, as indicated by the traditional dress of the figures.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the work employs a restrained palette of grays, browns, and soft tones to model atmospheric depth. Precise line work and careful shading reflect the artist’s emphasis on topographical accuracy, a hallmark of his approach to Orientalist landscape rendering.
History & Provenance
The print forms part of a larger series produced by Scottish painter David Roberts after his travels in Egypt, Syria, and the Holy Land. Roberts compiled sketches on site and later transformed them into lithographs and oil paintings; his contributions to this genre earned him election to the Royal Academy in 1841.
Context
Roberts’ images belong to the 19th‑century Orientalist tradition, which catered to European interest in the Near East. By documenting recognizable landmarks with scientific observation, his works served both artistic and documentary purposes during a period of heightened travel and exploration.
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…
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