A large portrait of Muhammad 'Ali Pasha of Egypt, 19th century

Muhammad 'Ali, also known as 'the Father of Egypt' and the 'Lion of Alexandria', held a significant role in shaping modern Egypt. After a long period of foreign occupation in Egypt, his ascendancy in 1806 marked a pivotal point as he established control over Egypt and Sudan, a domination that endured until the Egyptian revolution of 1952. Born in Kavalla, Macedonia in the late 1760s, Muhammad 'Ali gained prominence as a commander in the Albanian military, collaborating with British and Ottoman forces to expel Napoleon Bonaparte's army from Egypt in 1802. After the allied forces withdrew, Muhammad 'Ali remained in power, eventually declaring himself Egypt's de facto ruler in 1806. He skillfully navigated the geo-political complexities of his time, securing recognition from the Ottomans as governor or pasha, and thereby successfully reinstating an autonomous and hereditary dynasty at a time when the Ottoman Empire was exerting growing control over other Arab regions.

Muhammad 'Ali's campaign to consolidate his power involved decisive actions, notably the 1811 'Massacre of the Citadel', which effectively neutralized the Mamluks' influence. Expanding his influence, he initiated military campaigns into Palestine and Syria in 1831. However, European intervention curtailed his territorial ambitions at the Battle of St. Jean d'Acre in 1840, though he retained control over Egypt. Despite these setbacks, Muhammad 'Ali maintained a particular focus on internal reforms, leveraging Western alliances and technologies to modernise Egypt. Such initiatives included adopting Western educational systems, fostering industrialisation and establishing printing presses, garnering admiration from Europe.

In light of his efforts to implement a social and technological westernisation of Egypt, it is interesting to note that Muhammad 'Ali insisted on keeping a traditional Egyptian attire, as can be seen on the present work as well as in a portrait by David Wilkie, dated 1841 and currently in the Tate Britain, London (inv. no.N04276). Muhammad 'Ali's assertive posture and typically Egyptian attire in the portrait at hand underscore his role as a modernising nationalist leader, embodying pride in Egypt's cultural heritage and identity.