The Landscapes of Israel

The spectacular exhibition presents colorful paintings and depictions of landscapes of the Land of Israel (Palestine), painted by David Roberts in the 19th century.

Roberts (1796-1864), a Scottish painter and traveler, one of the leaders of English Orientalism, never formally studied art. He set out on his artistic road in 1830 as a set designer and, following his success in this field, art became the pillar of his life.

Roberts traveled extensively, and was one of the first British artists to visit the Middle East. In 1838 he visited Egypt, the Sinai Peninsula, Palestine, Transjordan, Syria and Lebanon, and created thousands of watercolor paintings as well as sketches of places he traveled through. Roberts portrayed the landscapes of Gaza, Bethlehem, Ashkelon, Mount Tabor, Jerusalem and other regions in Palestine in a vibrant and vivid manner.

In addition to Roberts’s works, the exhibition featured original copies of two of his large books, and a rare collection of colorful paintings and depictions of landscapes.