Léon Gérard Crépy was drawn from the north of France to Paris. In the artist metropolis he studied under the history and portrait painter Léon Bonnard. Crépy, too, later became known primarily for his portraits and was able to present his works at exhibitions in France, Belgium and Germany. The French painter recorded his journey to North Africa, via Malta to Egypt, in several studies. The small-format works were done plein-air, i.e. directly in the open air in front of the subject. They allow the viewer to experience Crépy’s journey like a memory. “The Sphinx” made a deep impression on many travellers to Egypt – after all, it is still the remaining monument of a once powerful culture and dynasty. Crépy was also spellbound by this apparition and captured the half-man-half-lion creature in this small sketch. With quick, small brushstrokes, he deliberately captures the chiaroscuro composition and the most striking forms of the figure. It is precisely the sketch-like quality and the translucent background of the wooden panel that make this work so appealing.