Artwork
Great Temple of Edfu, Upper Egypt
Great Temple of Edfu, Upper Egypt is a watercolor work on paper by the Orientalist artist David RA Roberts. It dates from 1838 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This watercolour painting by David Roberts captures the Great Temple of Edfu in Upper Egypt, created in 1838.
About this work
Overview
This watercolour painting by David Roberts captures the Great Temple of Edfu in Upper Egypt, created in 1838.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the ancient temple's weathered facade, with two tall towers and a flat roof, accompanied by small figures on horseback and camels traversing a dusty path.
Technique & Style
Roberts employed loose, expressive brushstrokes to convey the interplay of light and shadow, prioritizing atmosphere over precise detail.
History & Provenance
The work is a documented example of Roberts' travels, with the artist signing and dating the piece.
Artist & collection
Artist
Traveler and watercolorist David RA Roberts captured distant landmarks in crisp detail during the 1830s–40s.
Sketch in Portugal
Convent of St. Katherine, Mount Sinai
Temples of Juno, Lucina, and Concordia - Agrigentum, Sicily
Temple at Derr, Nubia, Egypt
Jerusalem
Herodias: Page 3, The citadel of Machaerus rose from the eastern side of the Dead Sea, on a peak of basalt, having the shape of a cone
Monumental Gateway, Patara, Turkey
Temple of Sabooa - Nubia
Aboo Simbel
The Convent, Mount Sinai
Remains of the Chateau de Mortimer, near Les Andelys, France
Corfu