The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of May 7, 2024

Egypt & Nubia, Volume III, No. 8: Mosque of Sultan Hassan, Cairo

Egypt & Nubia, Volume III, No. 8: Mosque of Sultan Hassan, Cairo

1842–49
(British, 1806–1885)
(Scottish, 1796–1864)
Image: 33.4 x 51 cm (13 1/8 x 20 1/16 in.); Sheet: 43 x 60.3 cm (16 15/16 x 23 3/4 in.)
Catalogue raisonné: Abbey 272:94
Location: not on view

Did You Know?

The minbar, a staircase-like pulpit from which a sermon is delivered by the prayer leader, imam, after Friday services, is visible in the hall on the left side of the print.

Description

The mosque and madrasa, school, of Sultan Hassan was built between 1356 and 1363 during the Mamluk period (1250–1517) in Egypt. The prestige of the project attracted craftspeople from across the Islamic world, which likely contributed to its innovative design. It is possible that stone from the Great Pyramid of Giza was used in its construction. This print features the central courtyard (sahn) with ablutions fountain (for washing one’s hands, feet, and face before prayer) and two of four monumental iwans, three-walled, vaulted rectangular halls. The interior walls and floor are covered in lavish stone and marble mosaics.
  • (Otto Schreiber, to John Bonebrake)
    ?-2012
    John Bonebrake [1918-2011], Cleveland, OH, bequest to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    2012-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Abbey, J. R. Travel in Aquatint and Lithography, 1770-1860, From the Library of J.R. Abbey; a Bibliographical Catalogue. Folkestone: Dawsons of Pall Mall, 1972. Vol. I, p. 244, no. 272
  • Art of the Islamic World (Islamic art rotation). The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (May 21, 2021-May 31, 2022).
  • {{cite web|title=Egypt & Nubia, Volume III, No. 8: Mosque of Sultan Hassan, Cairo|url=false|author=Louis Haghe, David Roberts, F. G. Moon, 20 Threadneedle Street, London|year=1842–49|access-date=07 May 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2012.184