Print of Medinet Abou, Thebes, by Roberts, 19th century

A 19th-century tinted lithograph by the Scottish master David Roberts (1796-1864), depicting the monumental temple complex of Medinet Abou in Thebes. Lithographed by Louis Haghe with masterful precision, the scene captures the enduring grandeur of ancient Egyptian architecture through delicate linework and a sensitive understanding of desert light.

Circa 1842-1849, this original period work belongs to the deluxe issue of Roberts’ monumental series on Egypt and Nubia.

Tinted lithograph on paper, presented in a clean mount and often found in the period’s finest hand-colored states. Rooted in the Victorian tradition of topographical art, this piece reflects the 19th-century romanticism for the Near East and the era’s pioneering spirit of archaeological discovery.