Lot Essay
These finished drawings were intended for publication, and nine out of the thirteen have been identified as preliminary studies for Views on the Nile from Cairo to the Second Cataract, 1843. A copy of this book of lithographs was formerly owned by Rodney Searight and is now in the Victoria and Albert Museum. An inscription by Searight in the margin of this book suggests that the reclining figures in the drawing illustrated above could be portraits of Jones and Goury. In the Searight Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum, there are also additional drawings and watercolours relating to the present collection.
Owen Jones, architect, ornamental designer, and draughtsman, was the Director of the Fine Art Department, western division of the Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace in 1851, in charge of the Egyptian court. He exhibited architectural subjects at the Royal Academy 1831-1861 and published a number of books. Jules Goury was a French architect who joined Jones on his travels.
Jones's and Goury's drawings were used for a number of Jones's projects, particularly the Egyptian Court at the Great Exhibition, Crystal Palace in 1851. In the preface to his pamphlet Description of the Egyptian Court erected in the Crystal Palace, Crystal Palace Library, London, 1854. Owen Jones writes: "The authorities which have served for the reproduction of portions of various Egyptian monuments forming the 'Egyptian Court' are a series of original drawings and measurements which I made on the spot in 1833, in company with the late Jules Goury...."
We are grateful to Charles Newton of the Victoria and Albert Museum for his help in preparing this catalogue entry.
Owen Jones, architect, ornamental designer, and draughtsman, was the Director of the Fine Art Department, western division of the Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace in 1851, in charge of the Egyptian court. He exhibited architectural subjects at the Royal Academy 1831-1861 and published a number of books. Jules Goury was a French architect who joined Jones on his travels.
Jones's and Goury's drawings were used for a number of Jones's projects, particularly the Egyptian Court at the Great Exhibition, Crystal Palace in 1851. In the preface to his pamphlet Description of the Egyptian Court erected in the Crystal Palace, Crystal Palace Library, London, 1854. Owen Jones writes: "The authorities which have served for the reproduction of portions of various Egyptian monuments forming the 'Egyptian Court' are a series of original drawings and measurements which I made on the spot in 1833, in company with the late Jules Goury...."
We are grateful to Charles Newton of the Victoria and Albert Museum for his help in preparing this catalogue entry.