Footnotes

• The present lot was completed on the artist's first day in Petra, a city which made an immediate impression on him:
  
  "It is absurd to attempt to describe this place, which is one of the great marvels of the world. I had expected a great deal, but was overwhelmed with extra surprise & admiration at the truly beautiful & astonishing scenes. The whole valley is a great ruin - temples - foundations - arches - palaces - in inconceivable quantity & confusion; & on two sides of the valley are great cliffs, all cut into millions of tombs - magnificent temples with pillars,- theatres etc. so that the whole place is like magic; & when I add that every crevice is full of Oleander & white Broom, & alive with doves, gazelles & partridges - you may suppose my delight was great. All the cliffs are a wonderful colour - like ham in stripes; & parts are salmon colour." (the artist's letter to his sister Ann, 23 April 1858)

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Category: Fine Art / Travel Pictures

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