98. Mosquée Nabédémiane, à Alexandrie by Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey

Artwork details

Medium
lithograph, print
Dimensions
Sheet: 22 3/8 × 15 5/8 in. (56.9 × 39.7 cm)
Location
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Copyright
Public Domain

Tags

#lithograph#print#coloured pencil#orientalism#cityscape#islamic-art

About this artwork

Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey created this print of the Nabedemian Mosque in Alexandria. Notice the composition and how the structure and minaret are centered, creating a focal point that draws the eye upward. The sepia tones lend a sense of timelessness, an effect achieved through subtle gradations of light and shadow. The texture, rendered with meticulous detail, captures the rough, sun-baked surfaces of the mosque, contrasting with the smooth domes and intricate latticework. This contrast plays into the dual nature of architectural representation: solidity versus the ephemeral quality of light. The linear perspective, combined with the elevated viewpoint, provides a comprehensive view of the mosque, situating it within its urban context. By using precise lines and careful shading, Girault de Prangey doesn’t just depict a building, but also evokes a sense of place and history. The formal elements of the print serve not only to document but also to interpret a cultural and architectural landscape.

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