Page 242 - Features of an Era
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tragic demise of Prince Ahmed Rifaat did not prevent his progeny from having
a significant enlightened impact on
Egypt’s modern history. His grandson,
Prince Youssef Kamal (1969-1882) was
at the forefront of which the Egyptian
modern art movement owes them credit
for their generous efforts. He was the
modern art renaissance reviver in Egypt,
the geographical traveler, one of the
most important artworks acquirer, art
lover and one of those who are fond of
rare precious things in modern Egypt
history(15). Prince Youssef Kamal was one
of the greatest fine art lovers in his time.
His passion for art was reflected on the
foundation of the Egyptian School of Fine
Arts in 1908, patterned on art institutes
of Europe. He spent his own money on
the school and «budgeted for it from his
land proceeds to empower it to improve
its mission; he dedicated an area of 127
acres of agricultural land which located Prince Youssef Kamal
in Minya Directorate, Upper Egypt, and
real estate in Alexandria as well to it»(16).
The school remained under the personal supervision of Prince Youssef Kamal until
it was affiliated by the Ministry of Education in 1928 to its schools. Prince Youssef
Kamal love of fine arts was reflected on his patronage of Society of Fine Arts Lovers,
as well as on his successive gifts to the Egyptian museums. «He dedicated his palace
in El-Matareya which contains precious and rare masterpieces and antiquities to the
House of Arab Antiquities (presently Museum of Islamic Art).These antiquities included
many pieces of carpets and precious Arab antiques.»(17) «This collection is dating back
to different eras; they amounted to 495 pieces. He ordered to be transferred after he
dedicated them to the House of Arab Antiquities in Bab Al-Khalq to gain benefit and
give the proceeds received from the fees paid by visitors to the poor and needy»(18).
In 1925, he dedicated other collections of antiquities, «a collection of cotton textiles
dating back to the seventh and eighth centuries, collections of paintings, books and
(15) See: Mongy, Yasser: The Egyptian Art Museums: The Historical Transformations and Documentation
Problems, Museum Booklets Series, issue no. 9, the Egyptian National Committee of the International Council
of Museums (ICOM Egypt), Cairo, 2018.
(16) See: The Dedication of Prince Youssef Kamal: The Archives of Ministry of Awqaf (Endowments), record
25/Egypt, Series 77.
(17) Al-Hilal magazine, issue: June 1st, 1925.
(18) See: Prince Youssef Kamal, Akher Saa magazine, issues: 132, January 17th, 1937 and 203, May 22nd,
1938).
242
a significant enlightened impact on
Egypt’s modern history. His grandson,
Prince Youssef Kamal (1969-1882) was
at the forefront of which the Egyptian
modern art movement owes them credit
for their generous efforts. He was the
modern art renaissance reviver in Egypt,
the geographical traveler, one of the
most important artworks acquirer, art
lover and one of those who are fond of
rare precious things in modern Egypt
history(15). Prince Youssef Kamal was one
of the greatest fine art lovers in his time.
His passion for art was reflected on the
foundation of the Egyptian School of Fine
Arts in 1908, patterned on art institutes
of Europe. He spent his own money on
the school and «budgeted for it from his
land proceeds to empower it to improve
its mission; he dedicated an area of 127
acres of agricultural land which located Prince Youssef Kamal
in Minya Directorate, Upper Egypt, and
real estate in Alexandria as well to it»(16).
The school remained under the personal supervision of Prince Youssef Kamal until
it was affiliated by the Ministry of Education in 1928 to its schools. Prince Youssef
Kamal love of fine arts was reflected on his patronage of Society of Fine Arts Lovers,
as well as on his successive gifts to the Egyptian museums. «He dedicated his palace
in El-Matareya which contains precious and rare masterpieces and antiquities to the
House of Arab Antiquities (presently Museum of Islamic Art).These antiquities included
many pieces of carpets and precious Arab antiques.»(17) «This collection is dating back
to different eras; they amounted to 495 pieces. He ordered to be transferred after he
dedicated them to the House of Arab Antiquities in Bab Al-Khalq to gain benefit and
give the proceeds received from the fees paid by visitors to the poor and needy»(18).
In 1925, he dedicated other collections of antiquities, «a collection of cotton textiles
dating back to the seventh and eighth centuries, collections of paintings, books and
(15) See: Mongy, Yasser: The Egyptian Art Museums: The Historical Transformations and Documentation
Problems, Museum Booklets Series, issue no. 9, the Egyptian National Committee of the International Council
of Museums (ICOM Egypt), Cairo, 2018.
(16) See: The Dedication of Prince Youssef Kamal: The Archives of Ministry of Awqaf (Endowments), record
25/Egypt, Series 77.
(17) Al-Hilal magazine, issue: June 1st, 1925.
(18) See: Prince Youssef Kamal, Akher Saa magazine, issues: 132, January 17th, 1937 and 203, May 22nd,
1938).
242
