Who painted Tombs near Cairo?

Tombs near Cairo was painted by Owen Jones in 1832.

Where can I see Tombs near Cairo?

Tombs near Cairo is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Tombs near Cairo?

Tombs near Cairo is associated with Orientalism.

Artwork

Tombs near Cairo

Owen Jones , 1832

Tombs near Cairo is a watercolor work on paper by the Orientalist artist Owen Jones. It dates from 1832 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

Tombs near Cairo is a watercolour painting created by Jones in 1832, featuring the Minaret of Qawsun in Cairo’s Southern Cemetery. It is one of eleven Nile view drawings from the Searight Collection.

Subject & Meaning

The painting centres on the tall, intricately detailed Minaret of Qawsun, set amidst smaller surrounding buildings and figures in traditional attire in the foreground, highlighting the monument’s prominence.

Technique & Style

Executed in watercolour, the work showcases meticulous detail, particularly in the minaret’s carvings and patterns, and realistic textures, aligning with Romanticism’s emphasis on precision and natural beauty.

History & Provenance

Originally part of the Searight Collection (SD.532–SD.542), it was published as plate 3 in 1843. Comparable pieces by the artist are found in the Victoria and Albert Museum and the British Museum.

Context

Created during the Romantic era, the painting reflects the period’s fascination with exotic locales and architectural detail, common in Nile valley depictions of the time.

Legacy

As part of Jones’s Nile views, it contributes to a broader body of work documenting 19th-century Egyptian landscapes, influencing subsequent artistic and historical representations.