Who painted Part of ruined mosque?

Part of ruined mosque was painted by Edward Armitage in 1855.

Where can I see Part of ruined mosque?

Part of ruined mosque is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Part of ruined mosque?

Part of ruined mosque is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Part of ruined mosque

Edward Armitage , 1855

Part of ruined mosque is a watercolor work on paper by the Impressionist artist Edward Armitage. It dates from 1855 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

Edward Armitage’s watercolour captures a fragment of a mosque in Bursa after the earthquake of 1 March 1855. The drawing records the immediate aftermath, showing the structure’s collapsed arches and scattered debris. Rendered in a quick, sketch‑like manner, the work emphasizes the vulnerability of even monumental architecture to natural disaster.

Subject & Meaning

The composition focuses on the disintegration of a once‑solid religious building, highlighting the transience of human constructs. A small window bearing a cross and the weathered walls convey a sense of lingering faith amid ruin, while the surrounding rubble underscores the suddenness of loss caused by the seismic event.

Technique & Style

Executed in watercolour, Armitage employs loose, gestural brushstrokes that convey light and shadow with immediacy. The palette of muted browns, grays and a soft blue sky reinforces the somber atmosphere. The sketchy approach aligns with mid‑nineteenth‑century realist tendencies to document observable reality without embellishment.

History & Provenance

The piece entered the market at Sotheby’s in February 1979, where it was sold for ten pounds together with three additional items. Its modest sale price reflects both its status as a study rather than a finished work and the limited demand for such documentary watercolours at the time.

Context

The 1855 earthquake devastated several of Bursa’s historic complexes, notably the Ulu Cami and the Orhaniye complex. Armitage’s rendering serves as a visual record of that catastrophe, contributing to contemporary understandings of the event’s impact on Ottoman architectural heritage.