David roberts en córdoba. vistas de paisaje y arquitectura hacia 1833

Abstract

David Roberts' views of Córdoba were carried out in 1833 and later redrafted as lithographs, engravings, and oils. These artworks enjoyed great commercial success and international diffusion due to their thematic and undoubted artistic value. The authors analyze their documentary value as a graphic record-prior to the advent of photography-of the urban landscape and architecture of Cordoba, a city now denominated a World Heritage Site. These images are studied here for the first time as a group, since they are either virtually untraceable or dispersed in museums throughout the world. In addition, these views have been contextualized with information concerning the artist and his Spanish journey, including a letter that he wrote from Córdoba. The documentary reliability of every image is also assessed, while the significant transformations of the places represented are indicated.