Front elevation of the Great Temple of Aboosimble [sic]. Nubia.(Frontispiece, vol. 2) (1846-1849)

This striking artwork titled "Front Elevation of the Great Temple of Aboosimble [sic], Nubia," created between 1846 and 1849, is one of the masterpieces by the renowned Scottish artist David Roberts. The painting detailedly depicts the grand entrance to one of Nubia's most awe-inspiring monuments, the Great Temple at Abu Simbel, originally commissioned by Pharaoh Ramesses II.In Roberts' lithograph, the colossal statues of Ramesses II sit majestically at the temple's facade, each sculpture towering over the landscape and exuding an air of unwavering authority and divine power. These monumental figures are carved directly into the sandstone cliff, illustrating the Pharaoh seated on his throne, wearing the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt. Intricately detailed carvings and hieroglyphics adorn the temple walls, telling tales of the pharaoh's valor and divine descent.The artwork captures the overwhelming scale of the figures in relation to the human figures depicted around the temple, providing a vivid sense of perspective. Visitors, depicted in 19th-century attire, appear almost minuscule as they explore the site, emphasizing the temple’s architectural grandeur and the enduring legacy of ancient Egyptian civilization.Roberts' rendering is not only an artistic achievement but also serves as an important historical record, preserving the majesty of ancient monuments in a time before photography could fulfill this role.