Artwork
Grand Cairo
Grand Cairo is a watercolor work on paper by the Orientalist artist David RA Roberts. It dates from 1839 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This watercolor by Roberts shows Cairo in 1839, painted at a high viewpoint. He used soft pinks to pick out domes and minarets against the city’s low skyline.
Roberts thought he was looking from a gate called Citizenib, but he was really at Tel Zaynum. The scene includes tombs, mosques, and the Citadel in the distance.
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Overview
Grand Cairo is a watercolour painting by David Roberts, created in 1839. It depicts a panoramic view of Cairo from a high vantage point.
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows several prominent monuments, including tombs and mosques, with the Citadel visible in the distance. Roberts inaccurately believed he was viewing the city from the Gate of Citizenib, but was actually at Tel Zaynum to the south.
Technique & Style
The work is characterized by a delicate pink glow suffusing the domes and minarets, set against a low city skyline. Roberts's use of soft pinks and high viewpoint creates a distinctive visual effect.
History & Provenance
The painting was later reproduced as a lithograph in Roberts's Egypt & Nubia (1846-49) with an incorrect title. It was part of a larger series of works based on Roberts's tour of the Near East in 1838-39.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Traveler and watercolorist David RA Roberts captured distant landmarks in crisp detail during the 1830s–40s.
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