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Palm trees at Karnak, Thebes

Marc-Charles-Gabriel Gleyre

1838

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Orientalism Romanticism Early 19th Century

Dominant colour

Palm trees at Karnak, Thebes is a 1838 watercolor by Marc-Charles-Gabriel Gleyre, a Orientalism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Marc-Charles-Gabriel Gleyre
When & what style?: 1838 · Orientalism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This painting shows a lone rider on horseback walking toward a group of tall palm trees. The trees stand in the middle of a sandy area, with a faint outline of distant hills. The sky is light and hazy, and the whole scene looks soft and dreamy. The rider’s cloak blends into the pale colors, making them almost disappear. The artist used watercolors, which gives the painting a gentle, almost sketchy feel. If you like this style, check out the Victoria and Albert Museum for more works like it.

The story of this work

Overview

A watercolour drawing by Marc-Charles-Gabriel Gleyre, depicting palm trees at Karnak in Thebes, was likely created during or shortly after his visit in March–April 1835. The work appears to be a variant of a similar subject he produced for Edward Lowell, later copied by the artist in 1840 for his own records. Another version of the palm trees exists in oil, while Hector Horeau adapted the composition with variations for an 1841 publication. The watercolour was purchased from Walter Spencer around 1960.

Read the full account in the museum source.