Coptic Folkloric paintings started in the 3rd century and died in the 12th century. Ms. Marguerite Nakhla revived this art in the 20th century.  The Coptic Museum of Canada is the only museum to exhibit six biblical scenes in Coptic folkloric style painted by Marguerite Nakhla. Coptic folkloric art seeks to relate folk culture to the religious/biblical story. Paintings depict the dress of the period and give traditional and environmental details.

Pierre du Bourguet, former Curator of Egyptian Antiquities at the Louvre Museum, Paris, in a letter to Marguerite Nakhla, dated 11 October 1957:

“…more precisely your art brings together the best of the ancient Coptic style with the best of modern art. It is a renewal that does not break away from the ancient while at the same time assimilating the contemporary that creates the opportunity to initiate a new and authentic Coptic art with a genuine religious feeling. I do not believe I am wrong to assume that you are initiating a new path and that you will have many disciples… ”

Original French text:

“…estimant présisément que votre art unit le meilleur du style copte ancien à l’art moderne le meilleur dans un véritable sentiment religieux. C’est ce renouvellement, qui ne rompt pas avec l’ancien tout en assimilant le nouveau, qui a des chance de présider à un art copte authentique. Je ne crois pas me tromper en estimant que vous inaugurez la brave voie et je vous souhaite de nombreux disciples…”

About Marguerite Nakhla

Ms. Nakhla was Coptic Orthodox, born in Alexandria in 1908 and passed away in 1977.

She had a bent for drawing and painting since her childhood. From the age of six, she would decorate her letters to her little friends with flowers and other motifs of her creation. In her early teens, she received many school awards for her art.

Ms. Nakhla graduated with honours from the School of Fine Arts, Cairo, 1934. She won a scholarship to study in France (1934-1939) at the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris, France.

Ms. Nakhla was noted for the diversity of styles she used in her art. She painted several hundred themes that were displayed in more than 30 exhibitions in both Egypt and abroad and particularly in France. She was also awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals in international exhibits for her folkloric and other paintings. Her painting “Dimanche au Luzembourg” was awarded the Bronze Medal at the 1937 International Exhibition in Paris.  At the 1975 Cairo celebrations commemorating the United Nations Decade for Women, Nakhla was one of ten Egyptian women painters at the exhibition “Women Painters the Past 50 Years” and was introduced as “the leading artist” of this period.