Artwork
Deserted. III
Deserted. III is a watercolor work on paper by the Impressionist artist William S. Perry. It dates from 1885 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. William S.
About this work
Overview
William S. Perry’s 1885 watercolour, *Deserted. III*, presents a solitary camel set against a night‑lit desert. The animal, rendered in muted browns and whites, faces left while its head turns toward the viewer, emphasizing its isolation. Distant hills rise under a dark sky punctuated by stars, and sparse rocks and scrub populate the foreground, creating a quiet, contemplative atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The work captures a moment of stillness within the broader context of the British campaigns in Egypt (1882) and the Nile Expedition (1884–85). By focusing on a lone camel, Perry suggests the desolation of the desert landscape and the loneliness of military presence far from home, echoing contemporary narratives of imperial adventure.
Technique & Style
Executed in watercolour, the piece relies on delicate washes to model the camel’s form and the surrounding terrain. Perry employs a realistic approach, using subtle tonal shifts to convey the animal’s musculature and the night‑time ambience. Fine brushwork defines the camel’s features, while broader strokes suggest the distant hills and star‑speckled sky.
History & Provenance
The drawing was circulated in periodicals such as *The Illustrated London News* and *The Graphic*, alongside comparable sketches by Count Gleichen and O.
*Deserted. III* is one of twenty‑seven scenes Perry produced documenting British military actions in Egypt and Sudan. The drawing was circulated in periodicals such as *The Illustrated London News* and *The Graphic*, alongside comparable sketches by Count Gleichen and O. Norie. Additional references to the work appear in the Searight Archive, confirming its role in visual reportage of the campaigns.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
A British watercolour artist active in the 1880s, William S. Perry painted scenes from Egypt’s military outposts in vivid, portable washes. His sheets include Outpost duty at El Gubat. Night. (1886) and Outpost duty at…
![Arabs and camels beside a Tomb, Algeria[?], by Victor-Pierre Huguet](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/victor-pierre-huguet--arabs-and-camels-beside-a-tomb-algeria--d8831a130920c80b-w320.webp)
