David Roberts, R.A. (1796-1863)
Lot 89

David Roberts, R.A. (1796-1863)

The Cybeles fountain, Paseo del Prado, Madrid

Closed15 December 2010

Price Realised

GBP 5,625

More Information

How to sell

David Roberts, R.A. (1796-1863)
The Cybeles fountain, Paseo del Prado, Madrid
signed, inscribed and dated 'Madrid D.../David Roberts.1832.' (lower right) and further inscribed 'No 2' (on the reverse)
pencil and watercolour heightened with touches of bodycolour and with gum arabic, on buff paper
6½ x 10¼ in. (16.5 x 26 cm.)

William Dodd, Kendal.
Anonymous sale; Sotheby's, London, 25 November 2004, lot 215.
with Agnew's, London.

Specialist note

In August 1832 Roberts left England for France travelling south to Spain. He reached Madrid on 16 December and stayed for three weeks before moving on to Cordoba, Granada, Malaga, Gibralta and Seville, returning to England on 22 October 1833.

The fountain of Cibeles, named after Cybele the Roman goddess of nature whose figure seated resplendently on a chariot pulled by two lions surmounts the structure, was constructed in the reign of Charles III and designed by Ventura Rodríguez, Robert Michel and Francisco Gutiérrez between 1777 and 1782.