Who painted Mt. Sinai?

Mt. Sinai was painted by Adrien Dauzats in 1836.

Where can I see Mt. Sinai?

Mt. Sinai is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Mt. Sinai?

Mt. Sinai is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Mt. Sinai?

Museum-quality prints of Mt. Sinai are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Mt. Sinai

Adrien Dauzats , 1836

Mt. Sinai is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Adrien Dauzats. It dates from 1836 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1836, Mt.

Inscription: Inscribed:upper center: DAUZATS; lower left: DAUZATS LITH; lower right: IMP BERTAUTS; by later hand, lower left in graphite: pes/T; by later hand, lower right in graphite: Dauzats / La Monte Sinai / Lithographie originale

About this work

Overview

Created in 1836, Mt. Sinai is a lithographic print on wove paper by French artist Adrien Dauzats. The image presents a mountainous scene dominated by a central stone edifice capped with a dome, surrounded by figures in traditional robes and turbans. Distant peaks rise under a light sky, framing the composition.

Subject & Meaning

The central structure, likely a religious or communal building, anchors the gathering of local inhabitants, suggesting a moment of collective activity or worship. The depiction of attire and accessories such as turbans and staffs conveys a snapshot of daily life within an Ottoman landscape, emphasizing the artist’s interest in regional customs.

Technique & Style

Dauzats employed lithography, a printmaking method that transfers a greasy drawing onto a stone surface before etching and printing. The medium allowed for fine detail and tonal variation, evident in the rendering of stone textures, fabric folds, and atmospheric sky, reflecting the Romantic era’s fascination with dramatic natural settings.

History & Provenance

The work originates from Dauzats’s extensive travels throughout the Ottoman Empire, during which he documented scenery and culture for illustrated travel books, often in partnership with writer Baron Taylor. Mt. Sinai was produced as part of these visual records, intended for publication and dissemination among European audiences.

Context

In the early nineteenth century, European interest in the Near East surged, fueling Orientalist art that combined empirical observation with exotic imagination. Dauzats’s lithograph aligns with this trend, offering a visual account that blends topographical accuracy with a romanticized portrayal of Eastern architecture and society.