The Mâristan or Mosque-Hospital of Kalaun, Cairo

Simpson employs a restrained palette of muted blues and earth tones, allowing subtle tonal variations to convey depth. Fine brushwork renders the stone’s roughness and the fabrics’ folds, while delicate washes model light and shade, creating a tranquil atmosphere without resorting to dramatic coloration.

Created during Simpson’s travels in Egypt, the watercolour was produced in 1882, a period when Western artists documented Middle Eastern architecture. The piece entered a private collection before being acquired by a museum specializing in 19th‑century travel sketches, where it remains part of the institution’s Egyptian holdings.