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Abu-Kier

Jane Stanhope

1798

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Biedermeier Romanticism 18th Century

Dominant colour

Abu-Kier is a 1798 watercolor by Jane Stanhope, a Biedermeier work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Jane Stanhope
When & what style?: 1798 · Biedermeier
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This painting shows a busy harbor scene with two boats in the water. The smaller boat in the front has a group of people rowing, dressed in loose clothing and hats. Behind them, a larger sailboat with a striped flag floats near a city skyline with domes and a tall tower. The artist focused on everyday life near the water, showing how people lived and worked. The light is soft, making the scene feel calm and peaceful. Next, look up Romanticism to see how this style shaped art.

The story of this work

Overview

This watercolour drawing by Jane Stanhope, Countess of Harrington, depicts the fort and harbour of Aboukir, a site near the ancient city of Canopus in Egypt. The work reflects topographical styles common in the period, drawing comparison to prints and watercolours by Luigi Mayer, including an 1801 aquatint and a related view of the fort. It was purchased from the Fine Arts Society in 1965, following its appearance at a Sotheby’s sale earlier that year. A companion piece of Alexandria, similarly styled, was sold alongside it.

Read the full account in the museum source.