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`Propyla of Great Temple. Luxor, Thebaid'

George de Sausmarez

1855

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Impressionism Orientalism Realism Early 19th Century

Dominant colour

`Propyla of Great Temple. Luxor, Thebaid' is a 1855 watercolor by George de Sausmarez, a Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: George de Sausmarez
When & what style?: 1855 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This sketch shows broken stone walls and tall, tilted obelisks in a dusty scene. A few small figures stand or crouch near the ruins, some carrying bundles. The walls have rough carvings and a distant spire pokes above the horizon. The colors are muted—earthy browns, pale blues, and faded whites. The artist focused on how light hits uneven surfaces, making shadows soft. This was drawn from life during a trip to Egypt. Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more of this artist’s sketches.

The story of this work

Overview

A watercolour titled *Propyla of Great Temple, Luxor, Thebaid* was created by George de Sausmarez in 1855 as part of a series of 45 works on 35 mounts, depicting views from Egypt and Nubia. The album containing these images was assembled during or after a Nile journey that year, with the pages housed in a half-bound crimson morocco music binder marked "EGYPT" on the front.

Read the full account in the museum source.