1845
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Suez from the Ruins of Colsum is a 1845 watercolor by Robert Moresby, a Orientalism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This watercolour painting shows a serene beach scene with a few boats floating in the water. In the distance, there's a large structure that could be a building or a ruin. The sky above is a soft, pale blue. A closer look reveals people and animals scattered across the sandy beach. Some of these figures seem to be engaged in various activities, adding a sense of life to the tranquil setting. The overall atmosphere of the painting is one of calmness and serenity. If you're interested in exploring more works from the same movement, you might want to look into Romanticism.
A watercolour by Captain Robert Moresby depicts Suez from the Ruins of Colsum, likely created during an 1840s voyage via the Overland Route to India. The scene includes a white tower with a heliograph for transmitting messages across the desert, alongside horse-drawn vans used by overland passengers. The work reflects the historical context of mid-19th-century travel infrastructure in the region. It was later sold at Christie’s in October 1971 as part of a larger lot.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Captain Robert Moresby was a British naval officer, hydrographer and surveyor who served in the Bombay Marine and Indian Navy.
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