A rare painting by Egypt’s last queen is set to go under the
hammer in London next week, offering collectors a unique
opportunity to acquire a work created by one of the most intriguing
figures in modern royal history.
The artwork, Abstract Landscape, was painted by Queen
Farida of Egypt, the former wife of King Farouk, and will be
offered at Olympia Auctions as part of its Modern & Contemporary
African and Middle Eastern Art sale on June 3.
Estimated to sell for between £7,000 and £9,000, the
oil-on-gold-paper work comes from a private London collection and
is appearing on the market at a time of renewed interest in the
artistic legacy of Egypt’s former queen.
Born Safinaz Zulficar in Alexandria in 1921, Queen Farida became
one of the most celebrated women in Egypt after marrying King
Farouk in 1938.
Farida, the former Queen of Egypt (1921-1988) – Photo
copyright: Olympia Auctions
Their marriage captivated the nation and helped cement her place
as one of the most recognisable figures of Egypt’s royal family
during the monarchy’s final years.
However, Farida’s life would take a dramatically different
course following her divorce in 1948 and the Egyptian Revolution of
1952, which brought an end to royal rule.
While King Farouk departed into exile, the former queen embarked
on a new chapter as an artist, transforming personal upheaval into
creative expression.
Painting became both a refuge and a vocation.
Encouraged by her uncle, the acclaimed artist Mahmoud Said,
widely regarded as the father of modern Egyptian art, Farida
developed a distinctive artistic style influenced by memory,
spirituality and her enduring connection to her homeland.
Living in exile between Beirut, Switzerland and Paris, she
produced a body of work that explored themes of place, identity and
nostalgia.
For many years, her achievements as an artist were overshadowed
by her royal biography.
In recent years, however, scholars and institutions have
increasingly reassessed her contribution to Middle Eastern art. Her
paintings are now held in several important collections, including
the Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha, the National Museum
of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo and the Royal Jewelry Museum in
Alexandria.
Interest in her work received a further boost last year when a
major exhibition at Cairo’s Liwan Gallery showcased her paintings
alongside those of her granddaughter, Yasmine Perreten.
According to Olympia Auctions, Abstract Landscape
belongs to a deeply personal period of Farida’s artistic career and
reflects the luminous surfaces and atmospheric qualities that
characterised her mature style.
Janet Rady, a specialist in African and Middle Eastern art at
Olympia Auctions, said: “Queen Farida occupies a unique place in
Egyptian history.
“While she is remembered as the former Queen of Egypt and wife
of King Farouk, her achievements as an artist are now receiving
renewed attention.
“Because her paintings are so rarely seen on the market,
opportunities to acquire one are exceptionally limited.”
The sale also includes another work connected to Egypt’s
political and cultural history.
A portrait of former Central Bank of Egypt governor Mahmoud
Hamed by renowned Egyptian artist Kamel Moustafa is expected to
fetch between £3,000 and £5,000.
The painting carries additional royal significance, having once
belonged to Queen Farida’s brother, Sa’id Zulficar, and is now
being consigned by the queen’s great-nephew.
Together, the two works provide a rare glimpse into the lives of
figures who helped shape modern Egypt, while highlighting the
growing international interest in 20th-century Middle Eastern
art.
