Artwork

Egypt and Nubia, Volume III: Gate of the Metwaleys, Cairo

Egypt and Nubia, Volume III: Gate of the Metwaleys, Cairo, by Louis Haghe, 1848
Egypt and Nubia, Volume III: Gate of the Metwaleys, Cairo, by Louis Haghe, 1848

Egypt and Nubia, Volume III: Gate of the Metwaleys, Cairo is a print by the Romanticist artist Louis Haghe. It dates from 1848 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

The artist focused on the details of the architecture, like the carvings near the door and the way the light hits the stone.

This drawing shows a busy street scene in front of a large, round stone building with arched doorways. People in long robes and hats crowd around the entrance, some standing, others sitting or talking. The walls of the building have small windows and a mix of textures—smooth stone and rough patches. A few street lamps and a small cart with a roof are visible on the left.

The artist focused on the details of the architecture, like the carvings near the door and the way the light hits the stone. This was made in 1848 as part of a series about Egypt.

If you like this style, check out Romanticism.

Overview

Egypt and Nubia, Volume III: Gate of the Metwaleys, Cairo is a lithograph created by Louis Haghe in 1848. It forms part of a broader series capturing Egyptian and Nubian architectural and landscape subjects.

Subject & Meaning

The lithograph depicts a vibrant street scene in front of the Gate of the Metwaleys in Cairo. The composition focuses on the intricately detailed stone architecture, juxtaposed with a bustling crowd of robed figures engaged in various activities.

Technique & Style

Haghe employed lithography, a medium he was instrumental in popularizing in Victorian England through his firm Day & Haghe. The work showcases meticulous attention to architectural detail, textural variation, and the play of light on stone surfaces.

History & Provenance

Created in 1848, the lithograph is attributed to Louis Haghe, a Belgian-born British artist with a background in watercolour and a successful career in lithography, particularly notable for his architectural renderings.

Context

The piece reflects the mid-19th-century interest in documenting and romanticizing Eastern landscapes and architectures, aligning with broader artistic and exploratory trends of the time.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Louis Haghe

Artist

Louis Haghe

Louis Haghe (17 March 1806 – 9 March 1885) was a lithographer and watercolourist from the Netherlands and then the United Kingdom.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.