Three views of the coastal towns of Hodeida, Loheia and El Cassar by Thomas Elwon (1793/4–1835)

Content

Genre/Subject Matter:

These three topographical views of the coastal towns of Hodeida, Loheia and El Cassar were sketched from on board ship.

The upper view shows a fully worked watercolour drawing of the sketch found in WD3533, showing the town of Hodeida [Al Hudaydah] as it extends along the bay from the ‘North Fort’ to the ’South Fort’.

The middle view shows a fully worked watercolour drawing of the town of Loheia [Al Luḩayyah]. In the background a mountain range recedes into clouds. A large, domed building is at centre, a fort at right and at far right a single ship is at sail.

The lower view shows a fully worked watercolour drawing of the sketch found in WD3531, showing the town of El Cassar. Steep, rocky peaks rise prominently in the background while in the foreground a low-lying settlement of huts at centre is surrounded by vegetation at right and in the background. At right a fort dominates the coast, with a number of boats at anchor in the bay before it.

Inscriptions:

Recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. :

Above upper image, in pen: ‘North Fort N35E’; ‘South Fort N60E’

Below upper image, in pen: ‘Town of Hodeida distant 2 miles. Highland visible in clear weather.’

Below middle image, in pen: ‘Town of Loheia’

Below lower image, in pen: ‘Town of El Cassar’

Verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. :

Upper left, in pencil: ‘WD3536’

Extent and format

3 topographical, watercolour views on 1 sheet of paper

It is part of

Drawings of the coast around Aden and along the Red Sea made during Elwon’s survey to establish the best course for steamers travelling to and from Suez by Thomas Elwon (1793/4-1835)

8 images

Ref: WD3533-3536

Physical characteristics

Dimensions:

261 x 451 mm

Materials:

Watercolour and pen on paper

Condition:

Surface dirt coats the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. and verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. , particularly at edges and corners where staining is also visible. The right lower corner of the paper is lost. Repair work has stabilised the sheet.

Written in

English in Latin script

Type

Drawing

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: Visual Arts

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

WD3536

History of this record

Date(s)

1829-1834 (CE, Gregorian)

Places

LoheiaHodeida

People & organisations

Thomas Elwon

Share this record

• Share on twitter
• Share on facebook

Cite this record in your research

Three views of the coastal towns of Hodeida, Loheia and El Cassar by Thomas Elwon (1793/4–1835), British Library: Visual Arts, WD3536, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100025656138.0x000004> [accessed 6 October 2024]

Link to this record

https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100025656138.0x000004

IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100023807154.0x000001/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Copyright: How to use this content