Pelra. Views of the Eastern End of the Valley 

David Roberts made this watercolor of Petra, Jordan, in the 19th century. It depicts the ancient city carved into sandstone cliffs. Roberts was a Scottish painter known for his detailed Orientalist scenes. In the 1830s, he traveled extensively in the Middle East. He created sketches, watercolors, and lithographs of monuments and landscapes. These artworks were crucial to the West's understanding of the region's architecture, culture, and history. They also coincided with a growth in tourism facilitated by the expansion of colonialism. Roberts's work offers a glimpse into 19th-century Western perceptions of the Middle East. By studying travelogues, personal letters, and political documents, we may better understand the cultural exchanges and power dynamics represented in his art. Art, as a product of its time, reflects shifting social values.