David Roberts RA
Pompey’s Pillar
First Edition lithograph
Half plate: 130
Presented in a acid free mount
"Pompey's Pillar" by David Roberts RA from his Egyptian series. This lithograph depicts Pompey's Pillar (also known as the Column of Diocletian), a Roman triumphal column in Alexandria, Egypt. Roberts captured this ancient monument during his travels to Egypt in the late 1830s.
The artwork would have been included in his published collection "Egypt and Nubia" (1846-1849). The actual column stands about 27 meters (88 feet) high and was erected in 297 CE in honor of Emperor Diocletian. Despite its name, it has no connection to the Roman general Pompey - this was a misnaming that occurred during medieval times.
Roberts' detailed rendering of Pompey's Pillar showcases both his artistic skill and his commitment to documenting the architectural and archaeological wonders of ancient Egypt.