Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level D , Case SCX, Shelf 10

Crusaders Castle Graia Gulph of Akabah

Watercolour
1857 (painted)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Ayla, a site now in Jordan, near the head of the Gulf of Aqaba, was originally a Roman settlement. It was taken by the Muslims from Byzantine control. During the 12th century, Crusaders captured Ayla from the Muslims and Baldwin I of Jerusalem built a castle on Gazirat Faraun [Pharaoh’s Island] nearby in about 1115. When Saladin recaptured Aqaba in 1182, the castle became known as Saladin’s Castle. The fortifications were rebuilt by the Mamluk Sultan, Qansweh El-Ghuri (1501-1516) and then it came under Ottoman control.
Although Maria Harriett Matthias is categorised as an amateur artist, yet, as with many other so-called amateurs, this description does not do justice to her skill as a water colourist. Very little is known about her life or work, simply because she was a woman, and did not need to sell or exhibit her paintings. Typically, she is only recorded (in Burke’s Landed Gentry), because she married James Mathias (b.1823) of Catisfield Lodge, Fareham, Hampshire. According to a fragment of her diary, in 1856-7 Maria, with her husband and `Eddy’ (probably her brother-in-law, Edward Mathias), toured through Italy to Egypt and on through Syria, Palestine and Lebanon. Paintings or drawings of this particular castle are very rare, surprisingly so, given its architecture, location and history. This watercolour was part of an album of views, mainly of Egypt, made by Maria on her tour.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleCrusaders Castle Graia Gulph of Akabah (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour over pencil
Brief description
Watercolour, `Crusaders Castle Graia Gulph of Akabah', 1857, by Maria Harriett Mathias (née Rawstorne)
Physical description
Watercolour drawing
Dimensions
  • Height: 25.3cm
  • Width: 35.9cm
Styles
Marks and inscriptions
Inscribed with title and dated May 11. 1857
Credit line
Purchased with the assistance of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Art Fund, Shell International and the Friends of the V&A
Object history
SD.628-632 were probably originally in an album containing watercolour views by the artist of her tour in Egypt, the Levant and Italy (and botanical studies), all inscribed and many dated between 1856-7, sold at Christie's 29.9.78 (160). SD.633-637 were contained in the same album, and were bought by The Fine Art Society, London, from whom bought by RGS.
Historical context
The Island of Graia, near the head of the Gulf of Aqaba, is now known as Gazirat Faraun.
B. Llewellyn, `Petra and the Middle East by British Artists in the Collection of Rodney Searight, Esq.', The Connoisseur, June 1980, pp.125 & 128.
Places depicted
Summary
Ayla, a site now in Jordan, near the head of the Gulf of Aqaba, was originally a Roman settlement. It was taken by the Muslims from Byzantine control. During the 12th century, Crusaders captured Ayla from the Muslims and Baldwin I of Jerusalem built a castle on Gazirat Faraun [Pharaoh’s Island] nearby in about 1115. When Saladin recaptured Aqaba in 1182, the castle became known as Saladin’s Castle. The fortifications were rebuilt by the Mamluk Sultan, Qansweh El-Ghuri (1501-1516) and then it came under Ottoman control.
Although Maria Harriett Matthias is categorised as an amateur artist, yet, as with many other so-called amateurs, this description does not do justice to her skill as a water colourist. Very little is known about her life or work, simply because she was a woman, and did not need to sell or exhibit her paintings. Typically, she is only recorded (in Burke’s Landed Gentry), because she married James Mathias (b.1823) of Catisfield Lodge, Fareham, Hampshire. According to a fragment of her diary, in 1856-7 Maria, with her husband and `Eddy’ (probably her brother-in-law, Edward Mathias), toured through Italy to Egypt and on through Syria, Palestine and Lebanon. Paintings or drawings of this particular castle are very rare, surprisingly so, given its architecture, location and history. This watercolour was part of an album of views, mainly of Egypt, made by Maria on her tour.
Bibliographic references
  • Searight, Rodney and Scarce, Jennifer M., A Middle Eastern journey : artists on their travels from the collection of Rodney Searight, Talbot Rice Art Centre, 1980
  • Khatib, Hisham et al., On the banks of the Jordan : British nineteenth century painters, Jordan : National Press, 1986 32
Collection
Accession number
SD.633

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdFebruary 29, 2008
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest