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The Great Khan, Damascus
Spiers, Richard Phené - Enlarge image
The Great Khan, Damascus
- Object:
Watercolour
- Place of origin:
Syria (painted)
- Date:
1865-1866 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Spiers, Richard Phené (FRIBA, FSA), born 1838 - died 1916 (painter (artist))
- Materials and Techniques:
Watercolour over pencil, stuck down on card
- Credit Line:
Purchased with the assistance of The Art Fund, the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Shell International and the Friends of the V&A
- Museum number:
SD.997
- Gallery location:
Prints & Drawings Study Room, level E, case SCX, shelf 5
Object Type
Paintings illustrating the treatment of exotic interiors became more frequent in the 19th century. In the search for ideas for a new building style British architects studied architecture outside Europe. These traditional forms were also threatened with obliteration by `the march of progress', and drawings had to be made to record them before they were destroyed.
People
Spiers was an architect better-known for his teaching and writing on the subject than as a practitioner. In 1865-1866 he toured the Middle East on a travelling scholarship from the Royal Academy. On his return he exhibited several pictures with Eastern subjects at the Royal Academy of which this was probably one. His aim was to encourage British architects to adopt or be inspired by the very different traditions of architectural practice to be found within Islam.
Subjects Depicted
In 1751 the Governor of Damascus, Assad Pasha al-Azam, commissioned the construction of this khan or secure place for merchants to stay, store and sell their goods. It was completed in 1753. The alternate colours of the bands of stone are good examples of polychrome or multicoloured architecture. Spiers wanted this type of building technique imitated in Britain.
