The Citadel of Cairo. Thomas Seddon (1821-1856). Oil on canvas. 15 3/4 x 11 3/4 inches (40.01 cm x 29.85 cm). Private collection, Canada. [You may use this image for any scholarly or educational purpose without prior permission provided you cite the artist's name, and this website.]
The Citadel of Cairo is a medieval fortification initially constructed in the 13th century by Salah ad-Din [Saladin], although subsequently altered by later rulers of Egypt. It served as the seat of government and the residence of Egyptian rulers for almost seven hundred years until the Abdeen Palace was built in the 19th century. The citadel dominated the skyline of Cairo from its location on a promontory of the Mokattam hills near the centre of Cairo, as can be seen in Seddon's oil sketch. The citadel is seen in sparling white in the left centre, surrounded by mosques and other buildings, while the local inhabitants in the foreground add colour and interest. The scene is painted at twilight, Seddon's favourite time, because of how this light enhanced the composition.
In a letter of 8 January 1854 Seddon tells of his desire to paint this scene:
I shall also begin to-morrow a sketch of the citadel, which stands at the end of a range of limestone hills, looking down over all the town, whose minarets and domes lie along its feet. In the afternoon, shortly before sunset, the rosy light on it and the mountain range, with exceedingly blue shadows, gives a beautiful effect; while in the middle of the day it seems colourless and shadowless. It is curious how completely scenes which are lovely by afternoon or early morning light lose all charm in the bright sunshine. The country and buildings are principally mud or sand coloured, while the glare of the sun makes the green trees (and palms especially) look quite grey. On the other hand, towards evening, the tops are bathed in rosy light, whilst the bases of the buildings and hills are half lost, and melted into light blue mist. [36]
When the picture was included amongst the Orientalist paintings shown at the semi-public exhibition held at Seddon's studio at No. 14 Berners Street in 1855, W. M. Rossetti in The Spectator praised it despite its sketchy nature: "The Citadel of Cairo seen by Evening is less elaborate in its style than the others; but it is warm, rich, and broad, with a fine Eastern feeling in it" (392).
Link to Related Material
Bibliography
Rossetti, William Michael, "Fine Arts. Oriental Pictures by Mr. Seddon." The Spectator XXVIII (14 April 1855): 392.
Seddon, John Pollard. Memoir and Letters of the Late Thomas Seddon, Artist. London: John Nisbet, 1858.
Created 20 December 2007
Last modified (commentary added) 27 March 2024.