A room in the house of Shayk Sadat, Cairo
1875
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1875
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This is a watercolour from about 1875. It shows the main sitting room in a grand Cairo home built for women. The artist wanted to record the space before modern changes took it away. British architects hunted for fresh design ideas abroad in the 1800s. They also feared old styles would vanish as cities grew. This picture doubles as proof and advertisement for the architect’s campaign. Look up the next artist: Dillon, Frank (RI).
