David Roberts: Artist and Traveler

"The gladdest moments, me thinks, is a departure into unknown lands."

—Sir Richard Burton.

International Arts & Artists and Hallie Ford Museum Director, John Olbrantz, are extremely proud to present the first touring exhibition of the work of David Roberts, which continues to resonate for its technical and aesthetic excellence, as well as for its profound impact on history and culture. David Roberts (1796–1864) was a self-taught Scottish painter who rose from poverty and obscurity in Edinburgh to become one of the most celebrated artists of his generation, a member of the Royal Academy, and a painter whose works can be found in some of the most distinguished public and private collections in Europe and America. A highly ambitious and motivated artist who loved to travel, he is best known for The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt, and Nubia- a travelog illustrated with 247 hand-colored and tinted lithographs of Egypt and the Holy Land that he produced with lithographer Louis Haghe from sketches he made during a nine-month trip to the region in 1838–39.

David Roberts: Artist and Traveler features sixty-two prints of Spain, Egypt, Syria, and the areas known as Nubia, Idumea, Arabia, and the Holy Land. All the works are generously on loan from the collectors, Ken and Linda Sheppard. In addition to the works on display, the exhibition is accompanied by a text panel, chat panels, maps, annotated labels with excerpts from Roberts’s Eastern Journal and other correspondence, Arabic and Middle Eastern music, and a full-color, clothbound book written by Olbrantz, with an introduction by collector Ken Sheppard. 

IA&A is extremely pleased to bring this exhibition and its insight into David Roberts' artworks to our partners. David Roberts: Artist and Traveler will tour for four years, until late 2029 and is now open for bookings.

Please contact TravelingExhibitions@ArtsandArtists.org for more information.