Artwork

Egypt and Nubia, Volume III: Minarets, and Grand Entrance of the Metwaleys, at Cairo

Egypt and Nubia, Volume III: Minarets, and Grand Entrance of the Metwaleys, at 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 daily life in Egypt, capturing details like the water wheel and the mix of old architecture.

This sketch shows a busy street in Cairo with two tall minarets in the background. People in robes and turbans sit or walk along the narrow path, while buildings line both sides. A large, covered water wheel stands on the right, and a stone archway leads into a courtyard.

The artist focused on daily life in Egypt, capturing details like the water wheel and the mix of old architecture. This was drawn in 1848 as part of a travel series.

Look up Romanticism to see how this style often mixed adventure with everyday scenes.

Overview

Egypt and Nubia, Volume III: Minarets, and Grand Entrance of the Metwaleys, at Cairo is a lithographic print created by Louis Haghe in 1848. It captures a scene of daily life in Cairo, featuring architectural landmarks and bustling street activity.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a Cairo street scene with two prominent minarets and the grand entrance of the Metwaleys. Everyday life is highlighted through figures in traditional attire, a functioning water wheel, and a stone archway, blending monumental architecture with mundane activity.

Technique & Style

Executed in lithography, the work reflects Haghe's training in watercolour and his mastery of lithographic techniques, likely influenced by the Romanticism era, which often intertwined exotic adventure with quotidian details.

History & Provenance

Created in 1848 as part of Haghe's *Egypt and Nubia* series, the print was produced during his association with the London firm Day & Haghe, which he co-founded around 1830.

Context

Part of a broader travel series, this print contributes to 19th-century European documentation of Egyptian and Nubian sites, catering to the period's interest in Orientalist themes and architectural exploration.