View of Athens with the Temple of the Olympian Zeus

1857

James Robertson

Associated Names
James Robertson

Artist, British, 1813 - 1888

Felice Beato

Artist, British, born Venice, 1832 - 1909

Antonio Beato

Artist, British, born Corfu (?), after 1832 - 1906

The image was captured from an elevated point of view. The horizon line is low in the composition. A series of ancient columns stand above the horizon. A sprawling urban area extends to the left. A large building is visible behind the columns. A mountain rises in the background. The color palette is sepia-toned, giving a vintage feel. The image has gentle tonal variations and soft contrasts, creating a sense of calm and timelessness.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    salted paper print

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Michael and Jane Wilson

  • Dimensions

    image: 19.8 × 28.5 cm (7 13/16 × 11 1/4 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2012.137.5.13

  • Volume Title

    Views in Jerusalem and Athens

Associated Artworks

See all 17 artworks

[[PLACEHOLDER ARTWORK]]

This is a photograph of an old stone building with intricate architectural details. The image shows a section of the historic structure with robust stone masonry. The walls are made of large, roughly-hewn stones, and the facade includes various architectural elements like arched doorways and windows with latticework. The structure features columns supporting part of the building, along with carved moldings and stripes around a large arched entrance. A small dome is visible above one section of the building. The stone's texture suggests weathering and age, giving the structure a historical look. Light and shadow play on the stone surface, enhancing the image.

Porch of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem

James Robertson, Felice Beato, Antonio Beato

1857

The image displays a historic cityscape with an elevated viewpoint, possibly from a rooftop or higher vantage point. The horizon is seen at the upper part of the composition, showing a transition from the urban environment to rolling hills in the distance. The skyline on the horizon has variations in elevation with a large domed structure at the center and a smaller minaret to its left. The image features a monochromatic palette emphasizing stone and earthy tones of the historic buildings. The urban area near the viewer is filled with stone buildings and ruins, some of which are partially collapsed. Towards the distant hills, there are scattered trees leading to the central dome and surrounding historical architecture.

Western Wall and Omar Mosque, Jerusalem

James Robertson, Felice Beato, Antonio Beato

1857


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(sale, Sotheby's, London, 08 May 1992, lot 19, as Sebastopol and Balaclava, Greece and Jerusalem. An album containing Twenty Four Photographs, 1850s); Michael and Jane Wilson, Wilson Centre for Photography, London, acquired 1992; gift to NGA, 2012.

Associated Names

Wikidata ID

Q64155500

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