Roberts was in Luxor between 27 November and 4 December 1838. He made a number of sketches which he later worked up and the present watercolour was executed circa 1840. It was engraved, with some minor changes, by Louis Haghe. The ruins of Luxor are viewed across the Nile from the South West and are more distant than those in the lithograph. The watercolour related to this lithograph is in the collection of The Marquis of Lansdowne, Bowood, Wiltshire. Two other watercolours depict Luxor from this vantage point.

A view of Luxor was sold Christie's, London, 2 April 1996, lot 90 £36,700.

We are grateful to Briony Llewellyn for her help in preparing this catalogue entry.