Artwork Page for Egypt and Nubia: Volume III - No. 36, Interior of the Mosque of the Sultan El Ghoree

Details / Information for Egypt and Nubia: Volume III - No. 36, Interior of the Mosque of the Sultan El Ghoree

Egypt and Nubia: Volume III - No. 36, Interior of the Mosque of the Sultan El Ghoree

1838

Louis Haghe

(British, 1806–1885)

after David Roberts

(Scottish, 1796–1864)
Culture
England, 19th century
Medium
color lithograph
Credit Line
Gift of J. Byers Hays 1953.534
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print

Description

The mosque of the Sultan El Ghoree was built by the Mamluk Sultan, Qansuh al-Ghuri (ruled 1501–16) according to sacred proportions. The lavish complex included an elegant fountain, a college, and the sultan’s own mausoleum, which was never used. Today, the mosque is still part of the historic urban fabric of modern Cairo. This print shows a view into its interior.

Artist David Roberts travelled in the Middle East and North Africa, particularly Egypt, from 1838 to 1839. During his journey, Roberts produced a great number of sketches. He developed these into watercolors, which were the basis for a series of 247 lithographs made by Louis Haghe, of which this is one.
A horizontally oriented color lithograph in muted browns and tans depicts men with light to medium skin tones wearing robes and turbans within a mosque. In the foregrounded lower half, figures gather on a checkered floor between symmetrical, striped masonry walls. A large central archway opens to a sunlit space with a tiered hanging lamp. Light streams from an open roof, illuminating upper walls decorated with intricate patterns and horizontal bands of Arabic script.

Egypt and Nubia: Volume III - No. 36, Interior of the Mosque of the Sultan El Ghoree

1838

Louis Haghe, David Roberts

(British, 1806–1885), (Scottish, 1796–1864)
England, 19th century

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