Colossal Head of the Sphinx of Giza thumbnail 1
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Colossal Head of the Sphinx of Giza

Watercolour
ca. 1800 (painted)
Artist/Maker
Mayer, Luigi (painter)
Place of origin
Egypt (painted)

Watercolour drawing


Object details

Category
Paintings
Object type
Watercolour
TitleColossal Head of the Sphinx of Giza (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour and gouache over pencil, heightened with white
Watercolour
Watercolour Drawing
Brief description
Watercolour, Colossal Head of the Sphinx of Giza, about 1800, by Luigi Mayer
Physical description
Watercolour drawing
Dimensions
  • Height: 39cm
  • Width: 54.5cm
Styles
Italian School
Orientalism
Marks and inscriptions
Lettered TESTA COLOSSALE DELLA SFINGE DI GIZA SITUATA DIRIMPETTO DELLA SECONDA PIRAMIDE.
Translation
Colossal Head of the Sphinx situated opposite the Second Pyramid
Credit line
Purchased with the assistance of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Art Fund, Shell International and the Friends of the V&A
Object history
According to Rodney Searight: - `The pair [with SD.644] bt fr P. Mullins, Nov.1969 £55'
Historical context
Reproduced: Mayer, Egypt, 1801[-04], Pl.7, aquatint titled Head Of The Colossal Sphinx, 1801 (see SP3.76). Cf. another version, Colossal head of the Sphinx of Giza near the Second Pyramid., Eyre & Hobhouse, 1983 (35).
Subject depicted
Sphinxes
Places depicted
Egypt
The Sphinx
Cairo
Bibliographic references
  • See large group of gouche drawings by Luigi Mayer, commissioned by Robert Ainslie (1729-1812) in Adam's Country House Collections at Slane Castle, Co. Meath, catalogue of auction held on 6th October 2009, lots 517 to 542.
  • Searight, Rodney and Scarce, Jennifer M., A Middle Eastern journey : artists on their travels from the collection of Rodney Searight, Talbot Rice Art Centre, 1980
  • Searight, Rodney. The Middle East : watercolours and drawings by British and foreign artists and travellers, 1750-1900, from the collection of Rodney Searight, Esq. London, 1971
  • Conner, Patrick (ed). The Inspiration of Egypt : its influence on British artists, travellers, and designers, 1700-1900 . Brighton Borough Council, Brighton, 1983
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
SD.643

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Record createdMarch 1, 2008
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O146562/colossal-head-of-the-sphinx-watercolour-mayer-luigi/
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