Vue générale des Ruines du Palais de Karnac (prise à l'Est) - Thèbes

Egypt impressed the imagination of all European cultures for a very loan time. 19th century Egyptomania was as a result of Napoleon's Egyptian Campaign (1798–1801) and, as a result of the scientific study of ancient Egyptian remains and culture inspired by this campaign. Western interest in ancient Egyptian history has led to extensive archaeological expeditions and innumerable collections of these magnificent antiquities worldwide.

Maxime Du Camp was a French writer and photographer, born in Paris on 8 February 1822. He was the son of a wealthy family and received a good education, studying law and literature at the University of Paris. Du Camp was a prolific writer, producing novels, travelogues and essays. He was a member of the literary group known as the Parnassians, who emphasised the beauty of language and form in their works. In addition to his writing, Du Camp was also an accomplished photographer. He began taking photographs in the 1850s and his work focused on landscapes, architecture and people. He travelled extensively throughout Europe and the Middle East, documenting his travels with his camera. Du Camp's photographs were highly regarded for their technical skill and artistic composition. He exhibited his work at the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1867, where he won a gold medal for his photographs of Egypt. Du Camp died on 9 February 1894 in Baden-Baden, Germany. His legacy as a writer and photographer is still celebrated today.