Page 246 - Features of an Era
P. 246
National Military Museum, the Graeco-
Roman Museum and the Municipal Library
of Alexandria(11). Also, Toussoun was one
of the geniuses of Egypt in the agricultural
research. He spent his life in developing
the agriculture in Egypt and writing in all
kinds of science and some of these books
are reprinted until now specially the
valuable historical ones. In spite of these
achievements which were enough to bring
him glory and honor, he did not lose sight
of his national struggle or supporting his
nation’s issues giving his money, efforts
and presenting his ideas on the Egyptian,
Arab and Islamic level. It is sufficient
to reflect on attitude shows Toussoun’s
greatness for uniting the Egyptians as well
as a model of eloquence: when he noticed
that the Coptic benevolent society was in
financial distress, he denoted 1000 pounds
and called on the Copts to subscribe to it
and appealed to the Muslims to subscribe Prince Ahmed Rifaat, brother of Khedive Isma’il, oil
on canvas, 140.5 x 102.5 cm
to their society as well. He published this
in the newspapers stating: «My ultimate
goal is to supervise a race for doing good joined by the two brothers Muslim and Copt
in Egypt where the competitors compete, so that I would see for what end the two
contestants work.
Tragic Endings and Unresolved Mysteries:
Some of the other artworks drive the viewers to examine some tragic events
happened in significant phases of the history of this dynasty, reflecting directly on the
courses of Egypt’s modern history.
That is best manifested in five paintings depicting three figures; the first figure
was the victim of a bloody tragedy, while the other two miraculously survived vague
incidents, whose real reasons have not been definitively identified yet.
The first painting portrays the first figure, the abovementioned victim, Prince
Ahmed Rifaat (1858-1825), the eldest son of Ibrahim Pasha and brother of Khedive
Isma’il, and grandparent of Prince Youssef Kamal, the reviver of the art renaissance
in Egypt.
On examining the biography of Prince Ahmed Rifaat drawn from reliable historical
(11) Ibid.
246
Roman Museum and the Municipal Library
of Alexandria(11). Also, Toussoun was one
of the geniuses of Egypt in the agricultural
research. He spent his life in developing
the agriculture in Egypt and writing in all
kinds of science and some of these books
are reprinted until now specially the
valuable historical ones. In spite of these
achievements which were enough to bring
him glory and honor, he did not lose sight
of his national struggle or supporting his
nation’s issues giving his money, efforts
and presenting his ideas on the Egyptian,
Arab and Islamic level. It is sufficient
to reflect on attitude shows Toussoun’s
greatness for uniting the Egyptians as well
as a model of eloquence: when he noticed
that the Coptic benevolent society was in
financial distress, he denoted 1000 pounds
and called on the Copts to subscribe to it
and appealed to the Muslims to subscribe Prince Ahmed Rifaat, brother of Khedive Isma’il, oil
on canvas, 140.5 x 102.5 cm
to their society as well. He published this
in the newspapers stating: «My ultimate
goal is to supervise a race for doing good joined by the two brothers Muslim and Copt
in Egypt where the competitors compete, so that I would see for what end the two
contestants work.
Tragic Endings and Unresolved Mysteries:
Some of the other artworks drive the viewers to examine some tragic events
happened in significant phases of the history of this dynasty, reflecting directly on the
courses of Egypt’s modern history.
That is best manifested in five paintings depicting three figures; the first figure
was the victim of a bloody tragedy, while the other two miraculously survived vague
incidents, whose real reasons have not been definitively identified yet.
The first painting portrays the first figure, the abovementioned victim, Prince
Ahmed Rifaat (1858-1825), the eldest son of Ibrahim Pasha and brother of Khedive
Isma’il, and grandparent of Prince Youssef Kamal, the reviver of the art renaissance
in Egypt.
On examining the biography of Prince Ahmed Rifaat drawn from reliable historical
(11) Ibid.
246
