177. Kaire. G.[âma] Amr. fenêtre

The Mosque of Amr Ibn El-Aas was the first mosque to be built in Egypt, and the first in Africa. It was established in the 7th century by Amr Ibn al'As, who was the commander of the Muslim army that conquered Egypt, and was built as a centre of Islamic learning at Fustat (early Cairo). Its historical significance was not lost on Girault de Prangey, who made at least sixteen photographs here, varying from sixth-plate to panoramic formats. This seems to be the only one of this subject in the archive (see also lots 72 and 75).

Window grilles are a feature of Islamic architecture, originally inspired by Byzantine architecture. They were often of alabaster or marble, but could be of plaster.