CATHERWOOD, FREDERICK (1799-1854) Jerusalem: two drawings, perhaps circa
1833. 12 1/4 x 18 1/2 inches (31 x 47 cm); pencil and watercolor heightened with white on watercolor paper mounted to card. With the adhered overmats presumably removed some time shortly after the sale of the drawings at Christie's (who provided a measure of the matted area only), with resulting damage to the extreme--previously obscured--margins, the drawings showing some fading relative to these previously matted portions. Some mostly minor foxing.

Frederick Catherwood, best known for his explorations in Central America and for his studies and drawings of Mayan sites, began his career as a topographical artist with travels to the Mediterranean. In 1833, he made a six-week survey of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, one of the first such by a Westerner. Given the centrality of the Dome in these views from the outskirts of the city, we would cautiously ascribe these to that period of Catherwood's work. They are, by any standard, important views of Jerusalem by one of the foremost topographical artists of the period.
Provenance:
John Davies F.R.I.B.A. and thence by descent; sold Christie's Sale 7073 (Exploration and Travel), Lot 258, Sept. 21, 2005 (at that time, from the measurements, without removal of the overmats); purchased by Bernard Shapero for the Collection of Jay I. Kislak

C The Collection of Jay I. Kislak sold to benefit the Kislak Family Foundation

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