Artwork

`Sioot - (the ancient Lycopolis.) - "Upper Egypt." from the Stabl-Antar Hill'

`Sioot - (the ancient Lycopolis.) - "Upper Egypt." from the Stabl-Antar Hill' 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. The watercolour, dated 1855, records a stretch of the Nile near the ancient site of Lycopolis, known locally as Sioot, in Upper Egypt.

About this work

Overview

The watercolour, dated 1855, records a stretch of the Nile near the ancient site of Lycopolis, known locally as Sioot, in Upper Egypt. Executed by General George de Sausmarez, it forms one of a larger collection of forty‑five images mounted on thirty‑five sheets that document his travels through Egypt and Nubia that year.

Subject & Meaning

The scene portrays a tranquil riverbank where a solitary traveler walks a dusty track beside the water. Across the channel, a settlement rises, its skyline marked by slender towers and domed roofs, suggesting a blend of historic architecture and contemporary habitation within the Upper Egyptian landscape.

Technique & Style

Saumsarez employs a muted palette and fluid brushwork, allowing atmospheric perspective to convey distance. Soft washes define the rocky foreground, a modest bridge, and scattered trees, while the delicate handling of light hints at the hazy heat of the Nile valley.

History & Provenance

The image is part of an album bound in half‑bound crimson morocco leather, stamped "EGYPT" on its cover. The album contains loose sheets gathered during Saumsarez’s upstream and downstream journey along the Nile in 1855, reflecting his systematic visual record of the region.

Context

Created during a period of heightened European interest in Egyptian antiquities, the work aligns with mid‑nineteenth‑century efforts to document the country's geography and monuments for scholarly and diplomatic audiences.