Qibla iwan and courtyard in the mosque of Qadi Yahya Zayn al-Din (Habbaniyya), Cairo

The photograph exemplifies Creswell's emphasis on photography as a precise tool for recording architectural detail, characterized by careful composition and attention to capturing the physical state of the monument at the time.

Acquired by the V&A from Creswell, the photograph is likely from fieldwork conducted for his scholarly publications, distinct from but occasionally overlapping with images from earlier collaborative works like the 1917 'Rambles in Cairo'.

Part of a broader collection spanning Islamic architectural sites across the Middle East and North Africa, this photograph reflects Creswell's pioneering approach to documenting medieval Islamic architecture through direct, high-quality visual recording.

As part of Creswell's corpus, the photograph contributes to foundational research in medieval Islamic architectural history, supporting his influential texts that remain crucial for scholars in the field.