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Chapel of the convent of Saint Catherine on Mount Sinai Feby 21st 1839 / David Roberts, R.A.

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Chapel of the convent of Saint Catherine on Mount Sinai Feby 21st 1839 / David Roberts, R.A.

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Painting drawn at the narthex at the original 6th century CE inner door, looking east and showing the nave of the basilica. (A. Shams, Sinai Peninsula Research, 2018)
Saint Catherine Monastery was constructed between 530 and 545 CE by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I (527-565 CE). "The monastery's church is a basilica, 37 m long and 20 m wide, composed of a narthex, a nave and two aisles, narrow chapels flanking the aisles, two additional chapels on both sides of the central apse, and the site of the Burning Bush 'the chapel of the Transfiguration' to the east of the central apse. Six columns in each row supported the roof beams which were either common cypress or pine; sheets of led top the beams." (Uzi Dahari, 2000) It is believed the narthex was added during a later period after the construction of the basilica in 6th century CE. Each column has a calendar icon with the saints of the month. The basilica is rich with works of art given as gifts to the monastery by Kings and Tsars. The side chapels flank the basilica as follows (anti-clockwise from the western entrance): chapel of Saints Cosmas and Damian (received martyrdom in 303 CE), chapel of Saint Simeon the Stylites (395-459 CE), chapel of St. John the Evangelist, the room of the holy vessels, chapel of the martyrs of Raitho (to the south the main apse), the main apse, chapel of St. Jacob, chapel of St. Antibas, chapel of Constantine and Helena (first half of 4th century CE), and the chapel of St. Mariana (6th century CE). The mosaic of the Transfiguration covers the apse. It is the most remarkable work of art inside the basilica and on par of Justinian's Byzantine mosaics of Ravenna in Italy. It covers an area of 46 square meters and made out of more than half a million pieces (11,700 pieces per square meter). Precious materials were used in its execution: gold/silver papers and glass paste. The entire basilica was restored between 1765 and 1787 CE and the dome was added in 1870 CE. The mosaic was restored by monk Samuel in 1847 CE, Ernest Hokins in 1959-1960 CE and the last restoration took place in 2005-2007 CE. (A. Shams, Sinai Peninsula Research, 2018)
Illus. in: The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt and Nubia / from drawings made on the spot by David Roberts ... ; lithographed by Louis Haghe. London : F.G. Moon, 1842-1845, v. 3, pts. 16-18, p. 12.
Surrogate reference copy available in: The Holy Land / David Roberts. Tel-Aviv, Israel : Terra Sancta Arts, 1982, v. 5, pl. 108, p. 24-25.
Tooley, no. 111

David Roberts, a Scottish painter, was born in 1796. His father was a poor shoemaker. From an early age, Roberts displayed a distinct artistic talent. Since age 10 he was apprenticed to a house-painter. In 1816, the young David joined a troupe of traveling pantomimists as a theatrical backdrop painter. Eventually, he got a position as a principal painter at the Theatre Royal, Glasgow, following that by employment, in 1820-21, at the Theatre Royal, Edinburgh and in 1823, the Drury Lane Theatre in London. Roberts made trips to Europe, sketching monuments and cathedrals with photographic precision. He turned these sketches into his first real “romantic travel” paintings exhibited and sold at ever-increasing prices. In 1830 he was elected president of the Society of British Artists. In 1832-1837 Roberts visited Burgos, Madrid, Toledo, Segovia, Cordova, Granada, Malaga, Gibraltar, Cadiz and Seville. In 1838 he sailed to Malta, the Greek Cycladian isles, and Egypt. In Cairo, after visiting the Pyramids of Geza, he wrote: “Not much struck with the size of the great one till I began the ascent, which is no joke. The Sphinx pleased me even more than the Pyramids... I cannot express my feelings on seeing these vast monuments.” Roberts left Cairo on 8 February 1839 to begin his trek to Palestine where Roberts drew sketches that would become some of the Holy Land’s most memorable plates. Roberts then went to Petra, that legendary rock-carved city. David Roberts travel lithographs were sketched in 1832-1840 and produced from 1842-49 by London publisher F.G. Moon. Hundreds of prints were made of each drawing from the lithographer’s original stone plate. David Roberts became a member of at least nine societies and academies. Roberts was at work upon a picture of St. Paul’s Cathedral, when he died suddenly at the age of sixty-eight, in 1864.

date_range

Date

01/01/1844
person

Contributors

Haghe, Louis, 1806-1885, lithographer
Roberts, David, 1796-1864, artist
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Source

Library of Congress
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saint catherine monastery mount sinai
saint catherine monastery mount sinai