Edfoo was painted by Maria Harriett Mathias in 1857.

Where can I see Edfoo?

Edfoo is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Edfoo?

Edfoo is associated with Biedermeier.

Artwork

Edfoo

Maria Harriett Mathias , 1857

Edfoo is a watercolor work on paper by the Biedermeier artist Maria Harriett Mathias. It dates from 1857 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

Edfoo is a watercolour drawing created by Maria Harriet Mathias (née Rawstorne) in 1857, during her Egyptian travels. The piece captures a scene in Alexandria, specifically the entrance to a column-supported hall.

Subject & Meaning

The artwork depicts ancient stone ruins with carved columns and walls adorned with hieroglyphs and faded carvings. Figures in blue and light robes are shown in the foreground, set against a pale blue sky. The composition highlights the interplay of light on worn architectural elements, conveying depth and the passage of time.

Technique & Style

Mathias employed watercolour to achieve a nuanced portrayal of light and shadow on the ancient structures. The use of wash for the sky and varied saturation to indicate depth reflects common early sketching techniques for capturing three-dimensionality.

History & Provenance

Started on February 25, 1857, Edfoo was likely part of an album from Mathias’s Egyptian, Levantine, and Italian tour, including botanical studies. The piece was sold at Christie’s in 1978, later acquired by The Fine Art Society, and eventually entered the Royal Geographical Society’s collection.

Context

Edfoo is contextualized within Mathias’s broader travel artworks, which included botanical and architectural subjects from her Mediterranean tours. Similar works by the artist can be found at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Artist & collection

Artist

Maria Harriett Mathias

Maria Harriet Mathias painted delicate watercolors of the Middle East in 1857. The five works in this set show views from Egypt and Lebanon—Edfoo’s temple walls, cedar groves, a boat trip near Asouan, the skyline of…