Vue d’une Mosquée, de Famagouste, en Cypre
Creator:
Cassas, Louis François, 1756-1827
Date:
ca. 1799
Medium:
Inscriptions:
Printed below the image: 3. V., No. 101., Dessine par L. F. Cassas [Drawn by L. F. Cassa], Grave a leu forte par Pilliment [Engraved by Pilliment], Termine par Nee [Finished by Nee], View of a Mosque, Famagusta, Cypre, L' édifice est situé près de la grande église = [The building is located near the big church.]
Description:
Louis Francois Cassas was sent to the Near East by his patron Ambassador to the Porte Choiseul-Gouffier to produce sketches for his forthcoming book Le Voyage Pittoresque de la Syrie, de la Phoenicie, Palestine et la Basse Egypte. He came to Cyprus in 1785 on his way from Alexandretta to Egypt because of a storm. Six engravings of views of Cyprus are included in Choiseul-Gouffier’s book. Cassas made thirteen illustrations of Cyprus; two of these are still missing and references in the French archives indicate that these were of Amathus. The engraving of the mosque of Famagusta refers in fact to the Latin Cathedral of St Nicholas (Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque) in the centre of the city. All that is shown of the Cathedral is part of the minaret. The building with the large cupola was a medrese (Turkish religious school). It conforms with the traditional style of Islamic architecture of such buildings. In front stand two granite columns from the nearby ancient city of Salamis. It is believed that the last venetian captain of Famagusta, Marcantonio Bragadin, was stretched and tied across these columns and flayed alive by the Ottomans when they captured the city in 1571. Two hanoums, Turkish ladies, with covered faces wait under a tree for two men to pass by so as to remain unseen by male eyes. Two other women, respectfully standing behind the ladies are minding three children. Their faces are uncovered, therefore they must be Greek servants. This is an Ottoman scene. Only the Greek women, the two granite columns and the sarcophagus under the tree give a hint of the “greekness” of the place in the picture.
Dimensions:
30 x 43 cm
Signature(s):
Unsigned
Alternative Title:
View of a Mosque, Famagusta, Cyprus
Subject:
Architecture, Religious Architecture, Islamic Architecture, Group Portraits, Cyprus Antiquities, Sarcophagi, Roman, Trees
Identifier:
PNT-00078
Provenance:
From the book Voyage Pittoresque de la Syrie, Palestine, et de la Basse Egypte
Classification:
Collection:
Object Type:
Rights Holder:
© Costas and Rita Severis Foundation
Rights Statement:
The Costas and Rita Severis Foundation holds or manages the copyright(s) of this item and its digital reproduction. If you need information about using this item, please send an email to research@severis.org
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