Sidon – From The North

Despite being closely guarded while exploring Sidon, Roberts was 'determined to sketch’ and in the end he succeeded in making four watercolours of the city that were later lithographed as part of The Holy Land series. 

In the present lithograph, Roberts stands near to the tomb of Zebulon (the last of Jacob and Leah’s six sons), a few yards from a group of people who appear to be enjoying watching the sun setting behind the ancient city. The tallest structure on the skyline is the minaret tower of the Great Omari Mosque, built on the remains of the thirteenth century crusade fortress.