Artwork

Egypt and Nubia, Volume III: Minaret of the Principal Mosque Siout, Upper Egypt

Egypt and Nubia, Volume III: Minaret of the Principal Mosque Siout, Upper Egypt is a print by the Romanticist artist Louis Haghe. It dates from 1849 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Egypt and Nubia, Volume III: Minaret of the Principal Mosque Siout, Upper Egypt is a lithographic print created by Louis Haghe in 1849, showcasing a detailed representation of the minaret of a main mosque in Sohag, Upper Egypt.

Subject & Meaning

The print focuses on the architectural features of the mosque's minaret, highlighting its tall structure, curved balconies, and pointed apex set against a clear sky, emphasizing the subject's cultural and religious significance.

Technique & Style

Executed with precise lithographic detail, the work exemplifies Haghe's skill in capturing architectural nuances, characteristic of the early Victorian lithographic tradition, with prominent white stone contrasting against a serene backdrop.

History & Provenance

Produced by Day & Haghe, a prominent lithographic firm co-founded by Haghe around 1830, this print is part of a broader series documenting Egyptian architecture, reflecting the era's interest in exotic locales.

Context

Reflecting the 19th-century European fascination with Middle Eastern landscapes and architecture, Haghe's work, like that of his contemporaries, catered to a market eager for depictions of distant, culturally rich sites.