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Perhaps the greatest travel painter of all time was David Roberts, a Scotsman
who traveled to Egypt and the Holy Lands in 1838 into 1839. He returned with a
remarkable collection of paintings which were lithographed by Louis Haghe,
perhaps the finest lithographer of that century, and published in a massive work
that is still immensely popular in Egypt and Israel. I have` long admired his
work and desired to travel in his footsteps. A tour to Egypt and Jordan in 2001
afforded me the opportunity to do some small watercolors along the way---and it
was a great thrill for me!
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ABU SIMBEL
The
incredible rock cut temple of Rameses II on the Nile in Nubia. An
international effort saved this temple from the rising waters of Lake
Nasser due to the new Aswan High Dam.
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TEMPLE OF LUXOR
The facade
of the propylon from the row of sphinxes. I got up early for this one,
for the sun was only right early in the morning. What a thrill! I
virtually had the place to myself---something that rarely happens around
the great Egyptian monuments.
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TEMPLE OF LUXOR II
Sitting on
the sidewalk with my back to the Nile, I sketched some of the great
columns of Luxor, together with the back of the propylon. A number of
people stopped by to look over my shoulder, including a film crew that
included me in their production
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TEMPLE OF LUXOR III
I could
not stop painting this great temple! I would probably still be there if
my tour had not moved on. The sun began to set before I finished this
painting, so some of the color was accomplished after I returned to my
hotel room.
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KARNAK
The
largest temple in the world, constructed by a number of pharaohs over a
period of centuries. I did not realize it at the time, but David
Roberts had sat in virtually the same spot for one of his paintings. He
probably sat alone. I was surrounded by hundreds of awestruck tourists.
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HALL OF COLUMNS, KARNAK
I remember
this little painting with amusement. I set my folding stool in what I
thought would be a private corner of this great hall of columns. As it
turned out, the spot proved to be the main stopping point for one tour
group after another. The sketch was accomplished between tour groups.
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THE "TREASURY," PETRA, JORDAN
It is
worth a trip to Jordan to see the “Rose Red City” of Petra, built by the
Nabateans prior to the Roman period and later extended by the Romans.
This incredible facade is carved out of solid rock
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HADRIAN'S ARCH, JERASH, JORDAN
This arch
is at the entrance to the Roman city of Jerash in Jordan. Jerash is not
as well known as Ephesus in Turkey, but rivals that city in extent and
preservation. This sketch worked quickly and simply.
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THE PYRAMIDS OF GIZA
We stayed
at the Mena House Oberoi Hotel at the foot of the pyramids of Khufu and
Khafre. I did this sketch sitting on a fire escape landing of the hotel
early in the cool February morning, after which I had breakfast while
gazing at these unbelievable structures.
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KOM OMBO
When David
Roberts painted Kom Ombo, it was still half covered with sand. Now
fully excavated, this Egyptian temple is impressive and beautiful on its
site overlooking the Nile. The interior carvings and paintings are
exquisite.
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