THE NILE THROUGH THE TREES
signed H.BANANI lower left
oil on canvas
60 x 54cm; 23 1/2 x 21 1/4in
90 x 85cm; 35 1/2 x 33 1/2in (framed)

Property of a Private Collector, London

Hosni El Banani's works are distinguished by their detail, the strength of contrast between colours and thickness of impasto. In Nile Beyond the Trees, El Banani uses subtle modelling of colour and light to bring the bucolic Egyptian landscape to life.

Born in Egypt, Hosni El Banani graduated from the Higher School of Fine Arts, where he studied under the artist Youssef Kamel and received the National Certificate of Art Teaching in 1937, and the Diploma of the Academy in Rome in 1940. Known for his Impressionist style paintings that capture movement and light in an Egyptian milieu, El Banani is considered to be the successor of Youssef Kamel and the two artists maintained a close relationship throughout their lifetimes. The Egyptian landscape serves as the greatest inspiration for both El Banani and Kamel. Both drew on the same subjects: the Egyptian alley, the village, people’s interaction with nature and with rural architecture, and the congregation of cattle at village markets, and boats and boatmen.

El Banani participated in various local and international exhibitions, including the Spring Exhibition of Alumni of Faculties of Fine Art in 1985, the Art in Arab World Exhibition in 1985, the Venice Biennale, the UNESCO Exhibition in Beirut and the Acquisition Exhibition in 2000. He was honoured with medals and certificates of merit for murals, and in 1938, was granted The International Award and the honorary prize at the Landscape Exhibition in Washington.