Roberts (David, RA)

an unusually documentary composition by Roberts, at a time of heightened international diplomatic tension, also unusual as the group scene includes a self-portrait as the artist accompanies a British delegation to the palace of Muhammad Ali Pasha, the Albanian-born Ottoman military leader who sought, and largely succeeded, to become Khedive of Egypt and Sudan, effectively wresting regional power from the rest of the Ottoman Empire in the face of grave European concerns at the threat to stability in the East, this fine copy from the deluxe ‘subscribers’ edition of ‘Egypt & Nubia’,

original hand-coloured lithograph, printed on thinner paper trimmed to the image and mounted on contemporary card support, as issued in the manner of an original watercolour, 342 x 485 mm. (13 1/2 x 19 1/8 in), hinged into a decorative mount,