Plate 19 Stone of Unction, Holy Sepulchre Jerusalem, Hand coloured David Roberts

The Holy Sepulchre Church in Jerusalem contains the two holiest sites in Christianity: the place where Jesus was crucified and where he was buried and rose again. For millenia this church has been a pilgrim site since it was built under the reign of the Emperor Constantine the Great in the 4th century. When the Scottish artist David Roberts visited the Holy Land in 1838-1839 Jerusalem was one of his main stopping points. He arrived just before the celebration of Easter and this helps to make his drawings even more remarkable. This lithograph was drawn on Holy Saturday most probably for the evening service that was the highlight of the Christian calendar. This was because it celebrated the resurrection of Jesus and Roberts has depicted the incredible procession leading into the church for this great celebration.
 
The drawings and watercolours from this tour by David Roberts of the Holy Land and Egypt were collated together into folios and released over a seven year period by the publisher F.G. Moon from 20 Threadneedle Street London. This lithograph is an original First Edition version (1842-1849).
 
Medium: Original First Edition Lithograph, with hand-colouring on thick woven paper.
 
Half Plate 19.
 
Inscribed l.l. 'Stone of Unction. Church of the Holy Sepulchre'  and l.r. 'D. Roberts March 30th 1839', 25 x 33.2 cm, framed (including original accompanying text from folio verso).