Artwork
The Pyramids during the Nile Flood
The Pyramids during the Nile Flood is a watercolor work on paper by the Impressionist artist Henry Noel Shore. It dates from 1888 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1888, The Pyramids during the Nile Flood is a watercolour by Henry Noel Shore, who held the rank of commander and the title of 5th Baron Teignmouth. The composition presents a tranquil riverbank under a pale sky, where reeds sway and a solitary figure stands in shallow water, while three softened pyramid silhouettes loom in the distance.
Subject & Meaning
The work juxtaposes an Egyptian landscape with a quiet, almost meditative riverside scene. The lone figure and the muted horizon suggest a moment of stillness amid the annual inundation of the Nile, inviting contemplation of the interplay between human presence and the timeless monuments that dominate the horizon.
Technique & Style
Shore employed delicate washes of pigment, allowing the pyramids to dissolve into a hazy backdrop. This approach, reminiscent of Impressionist practices, emphasizes atmospheric effects over precise detail, using a restrained palette of beige, gray and pale blue to convey the fleeting quality of light and mist.
History & Provenance
The watercolour was submitted to the Royal Academy in the year of its creation but was not selected for exhibition. It remained within Shore’s family until it entered the commercial market through the auction house Woolley & Wallis in February 1972, where it was offered for sale to a broader audience.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
English artist Henry Shore painted views of historic places in watercolor around the late 1800s.
