Obelisk at Alexandria, commonly called Cleopatra’s needle. 1846 - 1849

David Roberts captured this view of the Obelisk at Alexandria, commonly called Cleopatra’s needle, with watercolor on paper. Roberts was fascinated by the monumentality of ancient sites, and here he uses the translucency of watercolor to create a hazy, dreamlike image of the obelisk. Look closely, and you can see how the pale pink washes of color give the stone a warm, sun-drenched quality. But what's particularly interesting is how Roberts positions the obelisk within its social context. He includes figures in traditional dress, seated and standing around the base of the monument. These details remind us that the obelisk isn't just an isolated historical artifact, but an integral part of the lived environment of Alexandria, a testament to human history. By depicting this interplay of ancient monument and contemporary life, Roberts encourages us to consider the layers of time and labor embedded within this landscape, blurring the lines between art, craft, and the human experience.