James Dawkins and Robert Wood Esq., First Discovering Sight of Palmyra - John Hall

A detailed 1773 engraving by John Hall depicting the explorers James Dawkins and Robert Wood as they first encounter the ruins of Palmyra.

This engraving by John Hall, published in 1773, reproduces an original painting by Gavin Hamilton. The work depicts the British travellers James Dawkins and Robert Wood during their expedition to the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra in 1751. The scene captures the moment of their arrival, as the two men, dressed in classical-style robes, gesture towards the distant ruins of the site. They are accompanied by local guides and horses, set against a backdrop of palm trees and stone architecture.

John Hall was a skilled engraver who served as the historical engraver to King George III. His technique here demonstrates the precision and tonal control characteristic of eighteenth-century printmaking. The composition reflects the era's fascination with the Grand Tour and the archaeological exploration of the classical world. By documenting the encounter between European explorers and the remnants of antiquity, the image provides a visual record of the intellectual pursuits that defined the period. The inclusion of an inscribed funerary monument in the upper right corner adds a layer of historical weight to the composition, grounding the travellers within the physical reality of the site they have come to study. The print was published by J. Robson of New Bond Street, London, and was based on a painting then in the possession of Henry Dawkins. It remains a clear example of the intersection between artistic production and the documentation of historical discovery during the Enlightenment.