Petra, Lower End of the Valley, Viewing the Acropolis
1839
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1839
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This painting shows a sweeping view of Petra’s rocky valley. Bright sunlight hits the cliffs while shadows pool in the ravines. A lone figure stands near the center, wearing a hooded robe. Roberts made this trip in 1839, one of the first Europeans to document Petra in detail. His images helped people in Britain see the Middle East without leaving home. If you like this, check out David Roberts (Scottish, 1796–1864).
