• Exhibit

Antiquarianism at a Crossroad: David Roberts and the Levant

During his 1838-1839 travels through the Levant and Egypt, Roberts’ sketches captured layers of history and living cultures that inspired him. Looking beyond his artistic legacy, this exhibit explores his influence on archaeology in the region.

This event has already occurred

calendar_month
December 5, 2022 - March 31, 2023 @ Penn Museum Library
location_on
Penn Museum Library, First Level (Penn Museum Academic Wing Level 3)
group
Open to the Public
Detailed sketch of El-Dier, a major monument at Petra, Jordan

As a complement to the Penn Museum’s newly renovated Eastern Mediterranean Gallery, which opened in November, the Museum Library offers Antiquarianism at a Crossroad: David Roberts and the Levant, on display until March 2023.

David Roberts (1798-1864) is hailed as one of Britain’s greatest painters from his era. During his 1838-1839 travels through the Levant and Egypt, his sketches captured layers of history and living cultures that inspired him. Upon return home, he transformed several of them into monumental paintings and reproduced many as tinted lithographs for the famous publication The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt & Nubia (1842-1849). Looking beyond Roberts’ artistic legacy, this exhibit explores his influence on archaeology in the region.
 
The exhibit was co-curated by Matthew Sharp and Deborah Brown Stewart.

Plan Your Visit

This exhibition is free and open to the public. The entrance to the Penn Museum Library is located on the third level of the Penn Museum’s Academic Wing, opposite the doors to the Rooftop Terrace. Visitors may view the exhibition anytime the Museum Library is open.

Penn faculty, staff, and students must swipe their PennCard for access. Visitors from outside the Penn community must present a current, valid government or school-issued photo I.D. that contains an expiration date. Find more information and plan your visit.

Featured Image: detail from El-Dier, sketch by David Roberts