Isis – capitals in the temple of Isis. From the journey to Egypt

Isis – Capitals in the Temple of Isis shows the carved column capitals in the Temple of Isis on Philae Island — an island in the Nile near Aswan that was the last site in Egypt where the ancient religion was practiced, surviving into the sixth century CE. The temple complex was dismantled and relocated in the 1970s to save it from the Aswan High Dam's rising waters. Ciągliński painted these capitals in 1903 when they were still in their original island setting — a record of a sacred site that has since been physically moved from its original place.

Ciągliński focuses on the carved capitals as forms in strong Egyptian light — the sculptural detail partially dissolved by intense sun and shade. The palette is dominated by warm stone tones and deep shadow. Paint handling captures the massive quality of the architecture.