DAVID ROBERTS, R.A. | Ruins of Semua

Probably Francis, 1^st Earl of Ellesmere (1800-1857)
Probably Dowager Countess of Ellesmere, 1857
Probably The Ellesmere sale: Christie's, London, 2 April 1870, lot 55
Agnew's, London (probably purchased at the above sale)
J. Gerrard
Appleby, London, by 1965
Davis Galleries, New York, 1968
Sale: Christie's, London, 19 November 1968, lot 117,
Horsman (purchased at the above sale)
Sale: Christie's, London, 17 March 1970, lot 154, 
S.M. Maltz (purchased at the above sale)
Sale, Christie's, London, 15 February 1972, lot 54, (as Camels on the road near Senma [sic]
Sale, Christie’s South Kensington, London, 28 January 2015, lot 762
Purchased from the above by the present owner

London, Appleby, Exhibition of 18^th and 19^th Century English Watercolours, 1965, no. 83;
New York, Davis Galleries, Edward Lear and David Roberts, 1968, no. 8

Lithographed: by Louis Haghe for The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Egypt and Nubia, London 1843, vol. II, pl. 56 (as Ruins of Semua)

The colours are well preserved and the sheet is not stained. There is the occasional fox mark and surface dirt but these are very minor. The sheet is not laid down.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The Ruins of Semua lie between the town of Wadi Musa, near Petra and Hebron, in modern day Palestine. We are very grateful to Briony Llewellyn for her help when cataloguing this lot.