Sketching Cairo: the James W. Wild Collections

About the Project

The James Wild collection sits among a rich 19th century architectural archive of prints and drawings by renowned artists such as David Roberts and Frank Dillon. Studying, cataloguing and publishing Wild’s Cairo sketchbooks will shed new light on this significant yet underexplored visual record.

Context

In 1842, the British architect James William Wild joined the Royal Prussian Expedition to Alexandria. Wild settled in Cairo where he surveyed and documented mosques, caravanserais, hammams, with a focus on 17th-18th century domestic architecture. Wild became an expert on Islamic art and architecture, and on Cairo’s traditional buildings. In 1938, his daughter gifted his drawings to the V&A and the Griffith Institute, which document Wild’s Egyptian sojourn and travels in the Ottoman Empire, Italy, Greece, and Spain. Only few of Wild’s drawings were reproduced; most of his work remained unknown.

Aim

This project aims to transform access to Wild’s drawings and sketchbooks through enhanced cataloguing and improved online discoverability. Thanks to the V&A’s digital efforts, the collection is now accessible to researchers and the wider public. This allows new global audiences, especially from Egypt and the Middle East, to explore the drawings and discover Cairo in the 1840’s. Through the publication, the project studies how to present this collection and create an engaging visual documentation for researchers, heritage professionals, architects, designers, and the wider creative industries.

Outcomes

By cross-referencing the material with related V&A holdings, the project will reveal new connections within 19th century networks of artistic and architectural knowledge. The project will engage with a wide range of audiences through publication and talks highlighting the collection's significance and continued relevance. Outcomes include public lectures in London and Cairo, a publication, and a display at the Museum of Islamic Art, Cairo. It will produce two academic articles following participation in international conferences by the University of Granada and the Gennadius Library, Athens.