Who painted Convent of St. Katherine, Mount Sinai?

Convent of St. Katherine, Mount Sinai was painted by David RA Roberts in 1839.

Where can I see Convent of St. Katherine, Mount Sinai?

Convent of St. Katherine, Mount Sinai is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Convent of St. Katherine, Mount Sinai?

Convent of St. Katherine, Mount Sinai is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Convent of St. Katherine, Mount Sinai

David RA Roberts , 1839

Convent of St. Katherine, Mount Sinai is a watercolor work on paper by the Romanticist artist David RA Roberts. It dates from 1839 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. David Roberts produced a watercolour of the Convent of St.

About this work

Overview

David Roberts produced a watercolour of the Convent of St. Katherine during his 1839 visit to the monastery at Mount Sinai. Executed between 18 and 22 February, the drawing looks eastward across the Wadi al‑Deir toward the Plain of Raha, capturing the remote desert setting in a brief, sketch‑like manner.

Subject & Meaning

The image records the modest monastic complex, its flat‑topped structures and surrounding arid landscape, emphasizing the isolation of the holy site within the Sinai desert. The composition foregrounds a winding path that leads to the building, suggesting a pilgrimage route amid the stark terrain.

Technique & Style

Roberts employed rapid, loose brushwork typical of his field sketches, using a limited palette of light browns and soft blues. The watercolour’s quick strokes convey immediacy, giving the scene a fresh, observational quality rather than a polished studio finish.

History & Provenance

A second, signed and dated version dated 21 February 1839 served as the source for a lithograph by Louis Haghe, which appeared in the multi‑volume series *Holy Land* (1842–1849). The original watercolour later entered the collection of art dealers Abbott & Holder before being sold in June 1961 for twelve shillings and sixpence.