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Alexandria: Loggia in Wood

Unknown

1840

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Romanticism Early 19th Century Architectural

Dominant colour

Alexandria: Loggia in Wood is a 1840 watercolor by Unknown, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1840 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This drawing shows two small, dark loggias—open-air rooms with arches and columns—set into a light-colored wall. The space inside each loggia is empty except for a few simple chairs. The walls and floors are made to look like stone, with a pattern of small squares and rectangles. The whole scene is drawn in muted browns and blacks, with the loggias standing out against the plain background. The word "Alexandria" is written at the top, hinting this might be a view of a building from that city. The artist focused on how light and shadow play on the shapes, making the loggias look solid and real. Look up chiaroscuro next to see how artists use light and dark for drama.

The story of this work

Overview

A watercolour drawing titled *Alexandria: Loggia in Wood* was created in 1840 by an unknown artist. The work is linked stylistically to two other pieces, suggesting they may share the same creator. Historical records indicate connections to artists associated with Thomas Hay in Egypt during the 1830s. The drawing depicts a wooden loggia in Alexandria.

Read the full account in the museum source.