Footnotes

"A great crowd assembles to see the Mahmel off, and it is escorted for some distance by the Governor and principal dignitaries "en grande tenue". The camel that has the honour of carrying it is of great size and, I believe, of the highest breeding"
- Arthur Wavell, 2nd Earl Wavell


Provenance:
Property from a private collection, Rome

The present work is a highly important, exquisite rendition of the Mahmel procession in the distinctive signature impressionist style of Mohammad Naghi. A highly significant painting in Naghi's body of work, the painting appears at market for the first time after being held in a private collection in Rome for nearly a century

Naghi was born in Alexandria. He studied law in Lyons 1906-10 and painting in Florence between 1910 and 1914. After the first world war war he went to France and lived in Giverny, where he met Monet and was deeply influenced by Impressionism, characteristics of which are evident in the present work

Naghi entered the diplomatic service in 1925 and was attached to the Egyptian Embassies in Brazil and France; but resigned five years later in order to devote himself entirely to painting. Naghi was appointed Director of the School of Fine Arts in Cairo 1939 and subsequently of the Museum of Modern Art, Cairo. In 1947 he became the Director of the Egyptian Academy in Rome and cultural attaché. Awarded the title of Bey. His works include mural paintings for the Senate in Cairo and for Alexandria Hospital.

The Mahmel

One of the most interesting objects belonging to the history of the Hajj is the mahmal. The mahmal was the ceremonial palanquin carried on a camel which was the centrepiece of the pilgrim caravan from Cairo to Mecca. It was made of embroidered fabrics and symbolized the authority of the sultan.

The tradition of the mahmal began in the reign of the Mamluk Sultan Baybars (ruled 1260-77). Before departing on Hajj, the mahmal was paraded in the streets of Cairo with great pomp and ceremony and watched by thousands. It did not remain in Mecca but was brought back to Cairo by the returning caravan.

After the collapse of the Mamluk Empire in 1517, the tradition of the mahmal was continued by the Ottoman sultans. At different times mahmals were also sent from Damascus and Yemen. The practice of sending the mahmal from Egypt to Mecca continued until 1926 after which the practice was discontinued. It continued, however, to be paraded in Cairo until 1952.