Who painted Egypt and Nubia, Volume I: Temple of Wady Kardassy in Nubia?

Egypt and Nubia, Volume I: Temple of Wady Kardassy in Nubia was painted by Louis Haghe in 1846.

Where can I see Egypt and Nubia, Volume I: Temple of Wady Kardassy in Nubia?

Egypt and Nubia, Volume I: Temple of Wady Kardassy in Nubia is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Egypt and Nubia, Volume I: Temple of Wady Kardassy in Nubia?

Egypt and Nubia, Volume I: Temple of Wady Kardassy in Nubia is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Egypt and Nubia, Volume I: Temple of Wady Kardassy in Nubia

Louis Haghe , 1846

Egypt and Nubia, Volume I: Temple of Wady Kardassy in Nubia is a print by the Romanticist artist Louis Haghe. It dates from 1846 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Louis Haghe’s 1846 lithographic print, titled *Egypt and Nubia, Volume I: Temple of Wadi Kardassy in Nubia*, records the ruined temple perched on a rocky hill in Nubia. The image captures the weathered columns, a flat roof, and scattered walls under a single light source, emphasizing the texture of stone and the surrounding dry terrain.

Subject & Meaning

The work portrays the remains of the Temple of Wadi Kardassy, an ancient structure whose broken columns and partial walls illustrate the passage of time. By presenting the site in a natural light, Haghe underscores the interplay between human-made ruins and the enduring landscape, a theme common in 19th‑century depictions of distant antiquities.

Technique & Style

Executed in lithography, the print renders fine architectural details with a clarity that mirrors the precision of contemporary surveying. Haghe’s approach reflects the period’s practice of rendering travel sketches with a focus on accurate line work and tonal contrast, allowing viewers to discern structural elements despite the ruinous state.

History & Provenance

Born in 1806, Haghe established the London lithographic firm Day & Haghe around 1830, which quickly became a leading source for illustrated publications. This print forms part of a larger series documenting Egyptian and Nubian monuments, produced during a time when European scholars and artists were systematically recording ancient sites for scholarly and public audiences.

Context

The image emerged amid a surge of European fascination with Egyptology and Nubian heritage, driven by expeditions and the growing availability of printed visual material. Haghe’s work contributed to the visual corpus that informed both academic study and popular imagination of the Near East in the mid‑19th century.