Thebes: Colossi of Memnon

A watercolor drawing of a view of the Colossi of Memnon at Thebes. The royal party seen on the left, in front of the two statues. A label, apparently in the artist’s hand, mounted with the drawing, describes the archaeological repairs. Signed and dated.

Sir Oswald Walters Brierly accompanied the Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, and Alexandra, Princess of Wales on a tour of Egypt in 1869. The party set off from Trieste on 27 January and left for Alexandria two days later. Brierly made several drawings of the trip, including drawings made from the boat, and watercolors made in Egypt. Many of these drawings were placed in the ‘Souvenir Album’ series in the Royal Library in the 1930s. Brierly also gave Princess Alexandra lessons on the trip; she placed other drawings by Brierly in a separate album.