Page 209 - Features of an Era
P. 209
o Egyptian concerns over Ethiopian
sources of the Nile; there were Italian
threats of mobilization to the borders
of western Egypt in Libya. This made it
difficult for Fouad or other to celebrate
an occasion that reflects the Egyptian-
Italian friendship at that time. Moreover,
this period witnessed the illness of King
Fouad and then his death. In addition,
this period witnessed the presence of the
longer Wafd government. El-Nahas Pasha
and his colleagues were not interested
in a statue that commemorates the
Royal Family. They turned their attention
to complete the two statues of Saad
Zaghloul and celebrate their execution.
The situation continued as it was
until Farouk assumed his constitutional
powers in July 1937. Then, he succeeded
to overthrow El-Nahas ministry at the end
of that year. It was known that the young
king strongly admired his grandfather,
Isma’il, more than he admired his father,
Fouad. It was expected to quickly unveil An excerpt of what was published in Al-Mussawar
the famous Khedive statue but this magazine on December 9th, 1938, about the statue
didn’t happen until a year after El-Nahas
of Isma’il in Alexandria.
government was eliminated. During
that period, he long delayed the attendance of the unveil ceremony of the statue of
Saad Zaghloul in Alexandria. It was not acceptable to do this for the great Egyptian
leader, and do the opposite with his grandfather’s statue. During this period, several
newspapers were active in promoting the statue and commemorating the figure
embodies it. In addition to Al-Ahram, Al-Balagh and Mokattam praised Isma’il’s
during the celebrations of the statue execution, and they refuted his negative image
established over the years.
It seems that the Italian overwhelming domination of the execution project of the
Alexandrian statue of Khedive Isma’il, cast a strong shadow over the Cairene project
of his other statue, which was not erected on its famous pedestal at Tahrir Square.
Many writers and journalists attributed the execution of the statue to the Italians,
revoking the rights of Mustafa Metwally in designing and sculpting its plaster model.
209
sources of the Nile; there were Italian
threats of mobilization to the borders
of western Egypt in Libya. This made it
difficult for Fouad or other to celebrate
an occasion that reflects the Egyptian-
Italian friendship at that time. Moreover,
this period witnessed the illness of King
Fouad and then his death. In addition,
this period witnessed the presence of the
longer Wafd government. El-Nahas Pasha
and his colleagues were not interested
in a statue that commemorates the
Royal Family. They turned their attention
to complete the two statues of Saad
Zaghloul and celebrate their execution.
The situation continued as it was
until Farouk assumed his constitutional
powers in July 1937. Then, he succeeded
to overthrow El-Nahas ministry at the end
of that year. It was known that the young
king strongly admired his grandfather,
Isma’il, more than he admired his father,
Fouad. It was expected to quickly unveil An excerpt of what was published in Al-Mussawar
the famous Khedive statue but this magazine on December 9th, 1938, about the statue
didn’t happen until a year after El-Nahas
of Isma’il in Alexandria.
government was eliminated. During
that period, he long delayed the attendance of the unveil ceremony of the statue of
Saad Zaghloul in Alexandria. It was not acceptable to do this for the great Egyptian
leader, and do the opposite with his grandfather’s statue. During this period, several
newspapers were active in promoting the statue and commemorating the figure
embodies it. In addition to Al-Ahram, Al-Balagh and Mokattam praised Isma’il’s
during the celebrations of the statue execution, and they refuted his negative image
established over the years.
It seems that the Italian overwhelming domination of the execution project of the
Alexandrian statue of Khedive Isma’il, cast a strong shadow over the Cairene project
of his other statue, which was not erected on its famous pedestal at Tahrir Square.
Many writers and journalists attributed the execution of the statue to the Italians,
revoking the rights of Mustafa Metwally in designing and sculpting its plaster model.
209
