British Orientalist oil painting of Egyptian ruins by Samuel John Egbert Jones

Antique British Orientalist oil painting of Egyptian ruins by Samuel John Egbert Jones
British, 1852
Canvas: Height 61cm, width 51cm
Frame: Height 68cm, width 58cm, depth 3cm

Painted in 1852 by Samuel John Egbert Jones (1797–1861), this oil-on-canvas demonstrates the artist’s range, extending well beyond his celebrated sporting pictures and into the realm of Orientalist subjects. Born in London, Jones exhibited at the Royal Academy as early as 1820 and gained renown for his equestrian and sporting pictures, as well as his historical and portrait works. His meticulous handling of form and atmosphere found a natural outlet in Orientalist subjects, as is the case in the present work.

This scene places the viewer among the colossal remnants of a pharaonic temple, as the golden light of a Nile sunset illuminates its towering columns and scattered masonry. Two travellers rest in the foreground, their presence providing a sense of human scale against the weight of history. The composition blends precise observation with a poetic sensibility, evoking both the grandeur of ancient Egypt and the Romantic imagination of the 19th century.

The painting also reflects the cultural and political currents of the time, when Egypt occupied a central place in European thought—not only as a land of antiquity but also as a theatre of growing imperial interest. Jones’ interpretation mirrors this fascination, offering a contemplative dialogue between past and present, ruin and endurance.

Signed and dated in the lower right ‘S J E Jones 1852’, the painting rests in a well-preserved black and gilt frame.

It represents a striking example of British Orientalist art, at once historically resonant and aesthetically refined, becoming an excellent addition to any collection of art.

Artist/Maker: Samuel John Egbert Jones