Egyptian Landscape with a Distant View of the Pyramids

Egyptian Landscape with a Distant View of the Pyramids

1862
Artist
David Roberts, Scottish, British, 1796-1864
Country
Scotland
Object
painting
Medium
Oil paint on canvas
Accession Number
2018.24
Credit Line
Gift of the Berger Collection Educational Trust

David Roberts, Egyptian Landscape with a Distant View of the Pyramids, 1862. Oil paint on canvas; 15 × 24 in. (38.1 × 60.9 cm). Gift of the Berger Collection Educational Trust, 2018.24

Dimensions
image height: 15 in, 38.1000 cm; image width: 24 in, 60.9600 cm; frame height: 19 3/4 in, 50.1650 cm; frame width: 28 11/16 in, 72.8663 cm; frame depth: 2 1/2 in, 6.3500 cm
Department
European and American Art Before 1900
Collection
European Painting and Sculpture before 1900
This object is currently on view

In the 1830s, David Roberts was one of the first British artists to make a comprehensive study of Egypt. Back in London, his topographically accurate pictures sold well to a fascinated public. Later in his life Roberts gave rein to his imagination, as in this picture, combining the pyramids at Giza with the half-buried Temple of Edfu in the foreground—their actual locations nearly 500 miles apart. 

Known Provenance
Given by the artist to Dr. Henry Bence Jones; M. Kerkhoven; his sale, Christie's, London, December 4, 1959, lot 64; from which acquired by Ian Low; with Jeremy Maas Gallery, Lndon 1969; from which acquired by [Mr.?] Ross; sale, Sotheby's, London, April 12, 1995, lots 84; sale, Sotheby's, London, November 12, 1997, lot 112; from which acquired by William M. B. Berger and Bernadette Johnson Berger, Denver; Berger Collection Educational Trust; gifted to the Denver Art Museum, 2018. Provenance research is on-going at the Denver Art Museum and we will post information as it becomes available. Please e-mail provenance@denverartmuseum.org, if you have questions, or if you have additional information to share with us.
Exhibition History
  • “Treasures from the Berger Collection: British Paintings 1400-2000” — Denver Art Museum, 10/2/2014 – 9/9/2018