prisse d'avennes

 b. 1807, Avesnes-sur-Helpe, France.

d. 1879, Paris, France.

 Architect, Egyptologist, archaeologist, writer, Émile Prisse d'Avennes was a famed devotee of Egyptian and Oriental culture. Prisse d’Avennes made an incredible contribution to Egyptology with his body of work of illustration on ancient monuments, architecture, sculptures, and paintings.  

His initial journey was in 1836, where he studied sites along the Nile Valley, using the pseudonym: Edris Effendi, a name he used after converting to Islam. He adopted the dress, customs, and language as well. According to him, assuming the culture, helped him more deeply understanding Egyptian society and people. 

In 1827, on reaching Egypt, the viceroy of Egypt, Muhammad Ali, hired him to work as a civil engineer. During this time, he would explore ruins and illustrate them through sketches and writing. He also taught at the School of Infantry at Damietta, during which he made inventive suggestions to manage Egypt’s water resources, but this was met by administrative indifference. By 1836, frustrated, he resigned and committed himself entirely to archaeological research. 

His first publication ‘Les Monuments egyptiens’ was met with substantial acclaim. It prompted him to return to Egypt in the 1850s to add to his collection of works, and next publications named ‘L’Histoire de l’art egyptien’ and ‘L’Art arbe’, making his collection the largest, unassisted illustrated account of Egyptian art to exist.