David Roberts

1796 - 1864

David Roberts, RA RBA, was a Scottish painter especially known for The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt, and Nubia, a series of detailed lithograph prints that he produced from sketches made during tours of the region. Roberts worked with lithographer Louis Haghe from 1842 to 1849 to produce the plates. He funded the work through advance subscriptions sales. The scenery and monuments of Egypt and Holy Land were desirable, but few British artists had done such work, so Roberts quickly accumulated 400 subscription commitments, with Queen Victoria being his first subscriber. Her complete set is still in the Royal Collection.