Egypt and Nubia, Volume III: Interior of the Mosque of the Sultan El Ghoree

The mosque of the Sultan El Ghoree was built by the Mamluk Sultan, Qansuh al-Ghuri (ruled 1501–16) according to sacred proportions. The lavish complex included an elegant fountain, a college, and the sultan’s own mausoleum, which was never used. Today, the mosque is still part of the historic urban fabric of modern Cairo. This print shows a view into its interior. Artist David Roberts travelled in the Middle East and North Africa, particularly Egypt, from 1838 to 1839. During his journey, Roberts produced a great number of sketches. He developed these into watercolors, which were the basis for a series of 247 lithographs made by Louis Haghe, of which this is one.