Temple of Edfou, Upper Egypt
John Frederick Lewis captures the sun-baked grandeur of the Temple of Edfu rising majestically from the Egyptian desert sands in this delicate study. The massive pylon, adorned with faint hieroglyphs, dominates the landscape while a wash of pale blue sky contrasts beautifully with the warm, dusty tones of the surrounding ruins. Lewis, who lived in Cairo for over a decade, was a master of Orientalist art, bringing an intimate, almost photographic realism to his depictions of Middle Eastern architecture that absolutely fascinated Victorian audiences back home.
- Technique
- watercolor and pencil