A lithograph of David Roberts’ (1796-1864) lost painting The siege and destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans under the command of Titus took top honours at Staffordshire auction house Cuttlestones (17.5% buyer’s premium) on March 2-3.
The original painting, which measured a huge 7 x 12ft (2.13 x 3.65m), was painted in 1849 and is considered among the finest of Roberts’ Holy Land depictions.
The artist used the writings of Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, an eyewitness to the Roman siege and the destruction of Jerusalem, to create the work.