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Discovery of the Cairene Statue of Khedive Isma’il:
One of the most notable artworks displayed in this exhibition is the bronze statue
of Khedive Isma’il. The thorough examination of the statue and its data showed
that it is an original life-size replica of the statue of Khedive Isma’il, which was to
be erected in Isma’ilia Square (presently Tahrir Square) in the late forties. Having a
great historical significance, this discovery revealed the fate of this artwork; many
writers, critics, and journalists asserted that they lost all trace of it and attributed its
disappearance to unfounded reasons.
Moreover, this discovery proved that this statue was made by an Egyptian artist,
whose achievement has often been neglected. Even, it was frequently attributed to
foreign artists, which was refuted by the official record of this statue.
The importance of this discovery also lies in the resolution of the historical
problem that was prevalent among a number of the writers dealt with this subject,
the confusion between this statue and a similar one that is still in Alexandria.
The writer of these lines also addressed this problem a few years ago, clearing up
this confusion and correcting the mistake of attributing this statue to some Western
artists with documents and pictures. He recounted the faltering story of its creation,
with all its historical, social and political contexts in the book entitled «Sculptor
Mustafa Naguib: the Biography of a Teacher on the Walls of Alienation» issued by the
General Authority for Cultural Palaces in 2014.
On preparing this exhibition, the official record of the statue has been reviewed,
and the composition and details of the statue have been compared to the original
photographs and documents included in the book, confirming the identity of the
statue and correcting the common inaccuracies. Hence, a detailed account of the
circumstances and a brief presentation of the foremost information about this statue
in the book are required. When guided by sources on the greatest cultural and artistic
achievements of Muhammad Ali dynasty, especially the memorial monuments to the
most renowned rulers of Egypt, «many significant facts about these public statues are
discovered, a number of them occurred with some hot and complex political and
socialcontroversies.»(22)
Some of these sources showed the most important construction projects devoted
at the time to the erection of the statues of both Khedive Isma’il and King Fouad, the
most important of which were two of their statues in Tahrir and Abdeen Squares.
The comparison of these sources and the extrapolation of the events of the
documented periods explain the historical sequential context that paved the way for
the project of the statues, and unravel many mysterious circumstances surrounding
the construction of all these statues.
Most important in the examination of these sources is the filling of a number of
(22) Mongy, Yasser: Sculptor Mustafa Naguib: the Biography of a Teacher on the Walls of Alienation, the
General Authority for Cultural Palaces, 2014.
228
One of the most notable artworks displayed in this exhibition is the bronze statue
of Khedive Isma’il. The thorough examination of the statue and its data showed
that it is an original life-size replica of the statue of Khedive Isma’il, which was to
be erected in Isma’ilia Square (presently Tahrir Square) in the late forties. Having a
great historical significance, this discovery revealed the fate of this artwork; many
writers, critics, and journalists asserted that they lost all trace of it and attributed its
disappearance to unfounded reasons.
Moreover, this discovery proved that this statue was made by an Egyptian artist,
whose achievement has often been neglected. Even, it was frequently attributed to
foreign artists, which was refuted by the official record of this statue.
The importance of this discovery also lies in the resolution of the historical
problem that was prevalent among a number of the writers dealt with this subject,
the confusion between this statue and a similar one that is still in Alexandria.
The writer of these lines also addressed this problem a few years ago, clearing up
this confusion and correcting the mistake of attributing this statue to some Western
artists with documents and pictures. He recounted the faltering story of its creation,
with all its historical, social and political contexts in the book entitled «Sculptor
Mustafa Naguib: the Biography of a Teacher on the Walls of Alienation» issued by the
General Authority for Cultural Palaces in 2014.
On preparing this exhibition, the official record of the statue has been reviewed,
and the composition and details of the statue have been compared to the original
photographs and documents included in the book, confirming the identity of the
statue and correcting the common inaccuracies. Hence, a detailed account of the
circumstances and a brief presentation of the foremost information about this statue
in the book are required. When guided by sources on the greatest cultural and artistic
achievements of Muhammad Ali dynasty, especially the memorial monuments to the
most renowned rulers of Egypt, «many significant facts about these public statues are
discovered, a number of them occurred with some hot and complex political and
socialcontroversies.»(22)
Some of these sources showed the most important construction projects devoted
at the time to the erection of the statues of both Khedive Isma’il and King Fouad, the
most important of which were two of their statues in Tahrir and Abdeen Squares.
The comparison of these sources and the extrapolation of the events of the
documented periods explain the historical sequential context that paved the way for
the project of the statues, and unravel many mysterious circumstances surrounding
the construction of all these statues.
Most important in the examination of these sources is the filling of a number of
(22) Mongy, Yasser: Sculptor Mustafa Naguib: the Biography of a Teacher on the Walls of Alienation, the
General Authority for Cultural Palaces, 2014.
228
