Artwork
"On the Nile" Distant view of Cairo & Grand Mosque'
"On the Nile" Distant view of Cairo & Grand Mosque' is a watercolor work on paper by the Impressionist artist George de Sausmarez. It dates from 1855 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The work is a watercolor titled *On the Nile* that presents a panoramic view of the river approaching Cairo, with the city’s grand mosque discernible on the horizon. Executed in a light, sketch‑like manner, the image captures a tranquil stretch of water, a bridge, and small vessels, set against a muted landscape.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on the Nile as a conduit between rural and urban realms, juxtaposing the modest riverbank activity—boats and a modest bridge—with the distant silhouette of Cairo’s monumental mosque tower. This visual contrast underscores the river’s role in linking everyday life to the grandeur of the capital.
Technique & Style
Applied with swift, airy brushstrokes, the watercolor employs a restrained palette of pale blues for the water and subdued greens and browns for the surrounding terrain. The handling is loose, bordering on a rapid sketch, which conveys atmosphere rather than precise architectural detail, emphasizing overall impression over fine rendering.
History & Provenance
The piece belongs to a collection of forty‑five watercolors mounted on thirty‑five sheets, assembled in an album documenting Egyptian and Nubian scenery. The album, bound in half‑bound crimson morocco leather and stamped “EGYPT,” derives from a journey undertaken in 1855 along the Nile, recording scenes both upstream and downstream.
Context
Created during a period of heightened European interest in the Nile’s geography and culture, the work reflects contemporary travel documentation practices. Its inclusion alongside numerous other riverine and urban vistas provides a comprehensive visual record of mid‑nineteenth‑century Egypt, illustrating both the natural environment and the architectural landmarks visible from the water.
Artist & collection
Artist
George de Sausmarez painted watercolors of Egypt’s Nile in the 1850s, recording river scenes and landmarks with quick, transparent washes.
View of the Nile
`View down the Nile. Pasha's Factory S.of Daroot-el Shereef. Upper Egypt'
Album
`Cataracts of Assouan. Midway. - Our Candjia Moored for the Night - On the Nile'
`Approach to Philae'
Biban-el-Molook, or Tombs of the Kings. Belzoni's Tomb. Thebes
`Gournou & Hill of the Kings' Tombs - Thebes'
`Stabl-Antar. Ancient Egyptian Cave near Siout. Upper Egypt'
