The Bitter Lakes, Suez Canal

Place of Origin

Egypt (painted)

Date

1869 (painted)

Artist/maker

William Simpson, born 1823 - died 1899 (painter (artist))

Materials and Techniques

Watercolour over pencil, heightened with white, stuck down on card

Marks and inscriptions

Inscribed with title, signed and dated Wm. Simpson. 1869.; inscriptions in margins cut away

Dimensions

Height: 26.7 cm sheet, Width: 43.6 cm

Object history note

According to Rodney Searight: - `Bt. fr. Appleby Bros., Ltd., Nov. 1965, £26.5[shillings]'

Historical context note

Reproduced in the Illustrated London News 5 March 1870, p.245: [see SP.331]. The view depicts the Lakes from the northern end, at the entrance to the Suez Canal; for a description, see p.254. Simpson attended the ceremonies for the opening of the Suez Canal in November 1869 and several of his reports and illustrations appeared in the December issues of the ILN. In January/February earlier that year he had visited the work in progress on the Canal and sent material to the ILN which appeared in their March and April issues. See also G. Eyre-Todd, ed., The Autobiography of William Simpson, 1903, p.206

Descriptive line

Watercolour, `The Bitter Lakes, Suez Canal', 1869, by William Simpson RI FRGS

Exhibition History

The Inspiration of Egypt Its Influence on British Artists, Travellers and Designers, 1700-1900 (Brighton Museum and Art Gallery 01/01/1983-31/12/1983)
The Middle East Watercolours and drawings by British and foreign artists and travellers. 1750-1900. From the collection of Rodney Searight, Esq. (Leighton House 01/01/1971-31/12/1971)
A Middle Eastern Journey Artists on their travels from the collection of Rodney Searight (Edinburgh Talbot Rice Art Centre 01/01/1980-31/12/1980)

Subjects depicted

Egypt; Lighthouses; Suez Canal; Steamships; Dredgers (watercraft); Bitter Lakes; Al-Ismailiyah (governorate)

Categories

Paintings

Collection code

PDP