Roberts, David "Temple at Tafa in Nubia" From "Views in the Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt and Nubia"

David Roberts. "Temple at Tafa in Nubia." From Views in the Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt and Nubia. London: E. G. Moon, 1842-1849. 13 7/8 x 20. Folio. Tinted lithograph by H. Hague.  Very good condition. David Roberts (1796-1864) was born near Edinburgh, Scotland. As a child his artistic talent was encouraged by his family, through an apprenticeship to a house painter. He later became a scenery painter to a traveling circus; all the while, improving as an illustrator. During his extensive travels abroad he sketched local scenery and costume. His drawings of Spain were published as colorful lithographs in the series Picturesque Sketches in Spain during the years 1822 and 1823. His greatest work however, was issued in six volumes and containing nearly 250 chromolithographs of views of the Middle East. In the autumn of 1838 Roberts hired a boat on the Nile, traveling fast upstream as far as possible, then returning at a leisurely pace, making detailed additions to preliminary s