Who painted The Sepulchre of Absalom?

The Sepulchre of Absalom was painted by Luigi Mayer in 1792.

Where can I see The Sepulchre of Absalom?

The Sepulchre of Absalom is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is The Sepulchre of Absalom?

The Sepulchre of Absalom is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of The Sepulchre of Absalom?

Museum-quality prints of The Sepulchre of Absalom are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

The Sepulchre of Absalom

Luigi Mayer , 1792

The Sepulchre of Absalom is a watercolor work on paper by the Romanticist artist Luigi Mayer. It dates from 1792 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

The Sepulchre of Absalom is a watercolour drawing created by Luigi Mayer in 1792. It is part of a series of related works that the artist later adapted into aquatints.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing depicts the Tomb of Absalom, a rock-cut sepulchre in the Kidron Valley near Jerusalem. The scene shows the tomb surrounded by a few figures, with one person sketching in the foreground, set against a calm sea and pale sky.

Technique & Style

Mayer employed soft watercolour washes to capture the interplay of light and shadow, imbuing the scene with a dreamy quality. The depiction of the tomb blends real and imagined architectural styles.

History & Provenance

The watercolour was acquired by Rodney Searight from Victor Maly in 1967. It may have been executed on the spot during Mayer's visit to Syria.

Context

This work is associated with the Romanticism movement, characterized by its dreamy and imaginative representation of a historical site.

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Artist & collection

Artist

Luigi Mayer

Luigi Mayer (1755–1803) was an Italian-German artist and one of the earliest and most important late 18th-century European painters of the Ottoman Empire.