Approach to Philae, Egypt
Francis Frith
British, 1822–1898
1856
A mid‑19th‑century albumen silver print by Francis Frith that documents the approach to the island temple of Philae, made to record and circulate images of ancient Egyptian monuments to a Western audience.
The view is dominated by smooth, sculptural boulders and a mirror‑calm stretch of Nile that lead the eye to the distant, temple ruins—rendered in soft tones that give the scene a serene, timeless stillness.
An example of Victorian archaeological photography that helped shape Western perceptions of Egypt and demonstrated how photography could function as both documentary evidence and evocative travel imagery.
Medium
Albumen silver print
Dimensions
7 1/8 × 10" (18.1 × 25.4 cm)
Classification
Department
Credit
Purchase
Accession
173.1964
Palette
Art Terms
Exhibitions
