Who painted Roof of Denderah?

Roof of Denderah was painted by Jane Evelyn Lindsay in 1896.

Where can I see Roof of Denderah?

Roof of Denderah is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Roof of Denderah?

Roof of Denderah is associated with Aestheticism.

Can I buy a print of Roof of Denderah?

Museum-quality prints of Roof of Denderah are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Roof of Denderah

Jane Evelyn Lindsay , 1896

Roof of Denderah is a watercolor work on paper by the Aestheticist artist Jane Evelyn Lindsay. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This watercolour portrays the roof of the Temple of Hathor at Dendera, situated on a rocky hillside in the Egyptian desert.

About this work

Overview

This watercolour portrays the roof of the Temple of Hathor at Dendera, situated on a rocky hillside in the Egyptian desert. The composition includes the temple’s flat, light‑brown roof, its carved stone lines, and a hazy sky that merges with distant mountains, while three figures stand on a nearby cliff, observing the structure.

Subject & Meaning

The work records the temple after its excavation, a moment when archaeologists had cleared sand that had long buried the monument. The presence of the three onlookers emphasizes the site’s accessibility to travelers and scholars in the late nineteenth century, underscoring the growing Western interest in Egyptian antiquities.

Technique & Style

Executed in transparent watercolour, the drawing balances delicate washes for the sky with more defined strokes for the temple’s stone surfaces. The artist captures atmospheric perspective through muted tones, allowing the distant mountains to recede, while the foreground figures are rendered with sufficient detail to anchor the scene.

History & Provenance

Created by Lady Jane Evelyn Lindsay, an amateur artist who traveled extensively in Europe and Egypt, the drawing formed part of a broader portfolio that included portraits and stained‑glass designs. After remaining in the family, the collection was sold in 1977; the watercolour entered the market via Sotheby’s in 1979.

Context

Lindsay’s visit to Dendera coincided with the Anglo‑Egyptian army’s Sudan campaign of 1896, a period when British forces were active in the region. Her note about the temple being “dug out” reflects contemporary archaeological activity and the broader imperial presence that facilitated such explorations.

Egypt and Nubia, Volume II: Temple of Isis on the Roof of the Great Temple of Dendera, Louis Haghe

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Artist & collection

Artist

Jane Evelyn Lindsay

Jane Evelyn Atkins was an English artist who traveled to Egypt in 1896. She painted four watercolors of that trip: soldiers marching from Wady Halfa to Sarras, the roof of Denderah temple, recruitment in Assiut, and the…