Full-color illustration collectible book - Sacred Land

Author: (British) David Roberts
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-12-01
Features: 123 magnificent works that reflect the past and present of the cradles of world civilizations, from Egypt to the Middle East.
Introduction: David Roberts' engravings created from his pilgrimage to sacred sites were published intermittently from 1842 and quickly caused a sensation in Europe. At that time, though it was long after the age of Columbus' geographical discoveries, the mysterious and prosperous "East" remained a sensitive and imaginative concept in the minds of Westerners. After plunder and conquest, more and more Westerners began to believe that the treasures, fine wines, and wealthy kings with numerous servants described in books like The Travels of Marco Polo and One Thousand and One Nights were not entirely the product of the authors' imaginary minds. The emergence of Orientalism in the 19th century and the popularity of adventure literature marked that Westerners' curiosity and yearning for the East were no longer solely driven by economic interests but gradually entered the realms of culture and spirit, gradually permeating the foundation of social civilization. The exploration of the unknown continent's surface knowledge, ancient peoples, and long-standing civilizations became the center of greater attention. The origin of Roberts' pilgrimage to sacred sites cannot be said to have been inspired by this cultural trend. Moreover, it is well-known that at that time, Britain produced a group of heroic explorers like Richard Francis Burton and Charles Doughty, who far outpaced other Western countries in their exploration and understanding of the East. Roberts' era and environment were full of enthusiasm for exploration, and Roberts himself possessed the qualities necessary to become an outstanding explorer. From a young age, he showed a strong curiosity for mysterious things, refusing to settle as an ordinary painter or theater scenery artist, instead being drawn to stories like "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves." When he grew up, he became passionately devoted to the ancient and vanishing things and cultures. Roberts often sketched famous local relics during his travels across Europe. After entering sacred sites, he was often moved and inspired by the breathtaking exotic scenery of the Middle East, as expressed in his travel logs. When he approached Petra, the city carved into the rock by the Nabateans, Roberts impatiently left his camp and climbed to the top of the mountain just to see it earlier. At the famous ancient ruins of Baalbek, he ignored the danger of heatstroke and persistently sketched the ancient architectural structures, meticulously recording their dimensions. The Western society's keen interest in the birthplace of Christianity was another reason for Roberts' attempt at the pilgrimage. He followed the path Moses led the Jews out of Egypt, examining sites such as Moses' Spring, Mount Sinai, Mount Horeb, Galilee, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem—significant historical locations mentioned in the Bible. His investigations were meticulous and extensive, not limited to Christian relics, but also widely covered the ancient civilizations of the Middle East, the historical influence of local Islamic culture on Christian architecture and cities, and even the portrayal of local customs and people. Undoubtedly, Roberts' pilgrimage to sacred sites fully demonstrated his abundant artistic talent and expressiveness. Before this, his works like Vivid Sketches of Spain had already gained popularity, and even those with limited art appreciation could easily recognize his unique style that emphasized details and a calm, dignified tone. He was highly respected in the art world, with many clients from the upper class. After returning from his pilgrimage, he was elected as a full member of the Royal Academy of Arts for a painting depicting the temple gate of Baalbek. After Roberts' death, his popularity continued unabated, and many collectors took pride in owning his works. Even today, in places he once depicted, such as Egypt, small and large tourist souvenir shops still eagerly sell reproductions of his works in the form of decorative paintings and postcards. His works have long become iconic records of these sacred sites. The works created during his pilgrimage to sacred sites undoubtedly represent the pinnacle of this artist's life achievements, never losing their brilliance despite the passage of time and the cyclical changes in artistic taste.
This book is based on Roberts' personal travel logs and organizes his route into three independent parts in chronological order, marked with three different colors on the map. Petra, Jerusalem, and Baalbek are the focal points of the three journeys. Jerusalem's importance lies in its unique religious status and the charm created by its diverse ethnic and cultural influences. The other two sites are significant due to their ancient history and unparalleled architectural artistry, all of which greatly inspired Roberts' creativity. Along his journey, Roberts experienced all kinds of bad weather, repeated customs inspections, shortages of supplies, even robbery and threats, but he also received help from kind locals. To better convey Roberts' firsthand experiences during his travels, this book not only excerpts parts of his travel logs but also provides historical and geographical background for each architectural ruin depicted in the works, allowing readers to better understand the themes Roberts portrayed. When Roberts first returned to Britain, he could not immediately find a suitable publisher for these works. After being published by Francis Graham Moon in 1842, the publication process continued intermittently for eight years. A Belgian engraver named Louis Hange became Roberts' collaborator, creating these detailed and rich engravings based on Roberts' sketches. Perhaps due to the long publication period, some of the dates on the engravings were incorrect, and these errors have been carefully corrected in this book. Roberts' engravings vividly depict the vicissitudes and desolation, grandeur and decay of the cradles of important world civilizations. Even today, people in these places still live much as Roberts depicted them in the 19th century, as if time had frozen in one of the world's most mysterious civilizations, perhaps for thousands of years. People wear robes, their faces deep and weathered, enduring hardships day by day. Similarly, the magnificent architecture, desolate deserts and mountains, and bustling, oriental-style markets remain unchanged. All these places are still vividly before you today, but only Roberts, with his genius, added an immortal dignity and sanctity to them, making them eternal. To help readers fully appreciate this feeling, this book also specially pairs each engraving with a recently taken photograph of the depicted scene. These photos have no captions, allowing readers to use their imagination to take a spiritual journey to one of the most mysterious places in the world. As the saying goes, "show, don't tell"—let these images tell this fascinating and moving story!
Follow the path of the ancients in the Bible, walk into the desolate and silent desert, revisit the places where legendary miracles were shown and the great wonders created by humanity, in this mysterious land that gave birth to ancient civilizations. Time, it seems, has been enchanted here—even today, the deeply weathered faces of people enduring hardships, the magnificent and beautiful stone architecture, the bustling, oriental-style markets, and the natural wonders that defy imagination remain exactly as depicted by the master of the 19th century in Roberts' works, imbued with an immortal sanctity and dignity.