Who painted Studies of Mummy cases and Mummies?

Studies of Mummy cases and Mummies was painted by Edward Angelo Goodall in 1875.

Where can I see Studies of Mummy cases and Mummies?

Studies of Mummy cases and Mummies is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Studies of Mummy cases and Mummies?

Studies of Mummy cases and Mummies is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Studies of Mummy cases and Mummies

Edward Angelo Goodall , 1875

Studies of Mummy cases and Mummies is a watercolor work on paper by the Impressionist artist Edward Angelo Goodall. It dates from 1875 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

Executed in a compact format, the piece records two Egyptian mummy cases alongside a series of loosely rendered wrapped figures.

Edward Angelo Goodall’s watercolour, *Studies of Mummy Cases and Mummies*, dates to 1875. Executed in a compact format, the piece records two Egyptian mummy cases alongside a series of loosely rendered wrapped figures. The work entered the museum’s collection after being bought at auction from Phillips on 23 August 1971 for eight pounds, and a label from Walker’s Gallery was later discovered on the back of its original frame.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing juxtaposes two elaborately decorated sarcophagi with informal sketches of mummified bodies. One coffin is rendered in flat gold, blue and red fields with simple geometric patterns and hieroglyphic markings; the other displays a striped headpiece and a cloth‑wrapped form bearing painted scenes. The composition suggests a study intended to capture the visual vocabulary of Egyptian funerary objects.

Technique & Style

Goodall combines rapid, gestural line work with modest washes of colour, creating a hybrid of sketch and colour note. The watercolour application is light and translucent, while the flat colour blocks on the coffins are applied in a more deliberate, uniform manner. This blend of quick observation and deliberate annotation reflects the artist’s practice of recording details for reference.

History & Provenance

After its creation in the late nineteenth century, the watercolour remained in private hands until it appeared at Phillips auction house in 1971, where it sold for £8. The presence of a Walker’s Gallery label on the back of its former frame indicates an earlier exhibition or sale through that institution, though further details of its early ownership are not documented.

Context

Goodall, a member of the Royal Watercolour Society, produced a range of travel and archaeological studies during a period of heightened European interest in Egyptology. The work aligns with contemporary efforts to document ancient artifacts visually, serving both scholarly and artistic interests in the burgeoning field of Egyptology.