Artwork

Colossal Statues in the Plain of Thebes, during the Inundation of the Nile

Colossal Statues in the Plain of Thebes, during the Inundation of the Nile is a watercolor work on paper by the British Romanticist artist David RA Roberts. It is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This watercolour painting depicts colossal statues in a flooded plain, with the Nile's inundation creating a reflective surface.

About this work

Overview

This watercolour painting depicts colossal statues in a flooded plain, with the Nile's inundation creating a reflective surface. The work is attributed to an artist possibly linked to Gonsalvo Carelli, based on stylistic comparisons.

Subject & Meaning

The painting's central subjects are two colossal statues, set against a backdrop of a sunset and a landscape with hills and buildings. Figures and animals are shown in the foreground, interacting with the floodwaters.

Technique & Style

The artist's use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of depth, with light and shadow defining the forms of the statues and their surroundings. The watercolour medium allows for a soft, reflective treatment of the flooded plain.

History & Provenance

The painting is derived from a lithograph by Louis Haghe, published in Roberts' *Egypt & Nubia* (1846–49). It was purchased for ten shillings by an unspecified buyer in Warwick around 1967, having previously been sold at Sotheby's in 1973.