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The Royal Horse Guards crossing the Nile at Handak

William S. Perry

1884

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

The Royal Horse Guards crossing the Nile at Handak is a 1884 watercolor by William S. Perry, a Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: William S. Perry
When & what style?: 1884 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This sketch shows soldiers in uniforms loading supplies onto a small boat near the water’s edge. Behind them, camels stand on the shore, and a few men are handling ropes or gear. In the background, a larger ship sits on the river, with hills faintly visible across the water. The artist used quick, loose lines to show movement and activity, focusing on the busy moment of crossing the river. The scene feels urgent, like a snapshot of real work. Next, check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more sketches like this one.

The story of this work

Overview

This watercolour by William S. Perry depicts the Royal Horse Guards crossing the Nile at Handak, part of a series of 27 scenes documenting the British Campaign in Egypt in 1882 and the subsequent Nile Expedition from 1884 to 1885. The work reflects contemporary military movements and logistical operations, with visual parallels found in period publications such as *The Graphic* and *The Illustrated London News*. Comparable sketches by Count Gleichen and O. Norie further contextualize the scene within broader documentation of the campaign.

Read the full account in the museum source.

About the artist

Artist

William S. Perry

A British watercolour artist active in the 1880s, William S. Perry painted scenes from Egypt’s military outposts in vivid, portable washes. His sheets include Outpost duty at El Gubat. Night. (1886) and Outpost duty at…

See the richer artist page