Artwork

Egypt and Nubia, Volume II: Ruins of the Temple of Madamoud, at Thebes

Egypt and Nubia, Volume II: Ruins of the Temple of Madamoud, at Thebes is a print by the Romanticist artist Louis Haghe. It dates from 1847 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Louis Haghe’s 1847 lithograph, titled *Egypt and Nubia, Volume II: Ruins of the Temple of Madamoud, at Thebes*, records the decayed remains of an ancient Egyptian sanctuary. Executed as part of a broader series on Egyptian and Nubian monuments, the print presents a stark desert landscape punctuated by three standing columns and a lintelled doorway, under a light sky dotted with clouds.

Subject & Meaning

The image captures the Temple of Madamoud, a ruined structure near the historic city of Thebes. By emphasizing the weathered stone and sparse vegetation, the work conveys the passage of time and the endurance of monumental architecture despite centuries of neglect.

Technique & Style

Created with lithographic processes, the print reflects Haghe’s skill in rendering fine architectural detail and atmospheric effects. The contrast between the crisp outlines of the columns and the soft tonal gradations of the sky demonstrates the artist’s command of both line and wash within the medium.

History & Provenance

Born in the Netherlands, Haghe moved to England in 1823 and later co‑founded the lithographic firm Day & Hagge around 1830. The firm became a leading producer of illustrated works, and this print was issued as part of their series documenting the monuments of Egypt and Nubia during the mid‑19th‑century wave of interest in antiquities.

Context

The lithograph belongs to a period when European travelers and scholars were systematically recording ancient sites in the Nile valley. Such visual records supplemented archaeological surveys and fed the growing fascination with Egypt that accompanied colonial expansion and scholarly expeditions.