Artwork

Egypt and Nubia, Volume III: Minaret of the Principal Mosque Siout, Upper Egypt

Egypt and Nubia, Volume III: Minaret of the Principal Mosque Siout, Upper Egypt is a print by the Romanticist artist Louis Haghe. It dates from 1849 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 2012.227
Credit line: Bequest of John Bonebrake

About this work

Overview

Egypt and Nubia, Volume III: Minaret of the Principal Mosque Siout, Upper Egypt is a lithographic print created by Louis Haghe in 1849, showcasing a detailed representation of the minaret of a main mosque in Sohag, Upper Egypt.

Subject & Meaning

The print focuses on the architectural features of the mosque's minaret, highlighting its tall structure, curved balconies, and pointed apex set against a clear sky, emphasizing the subject's cultural and religious significance.

Technique & Style

Executed with precise lithographic detail, the work exemplifies Haghe's skill in capturing architectural nuances, characteristic of the early Victorian lithographic tradition, with prominent white stone contrasting against a serene backdrop.

History & Provenance

Produced by Day & Haghe, a prominent lithographic firm co-founded by Haghe around 1830, this print is part of a broader series documenting Egyptian architecture, reflecting the era's interest in exotic locales.

Context

Reflecting the 19th-century European fascination with Middle Eastern landscapes and architecture, Haghe's work, like that of his contemporaries, catered to a market eager for depictions of distant, culturally rich sites.