Who painted Maculla. Town. Coast of Arabia. Coal Depot?

Maculla. Town. Coast of Arabia. Coal Depot was painted by Robert Moresby in 1840.

Where can I see Maculla. Town. Coast of Arabia. Coal Depot?

Maculla. Town. Coast of Arabia. Coal Depot is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Maculla. Town. Coast of Arabia. Coal Depot?

Maculla. Town. Coast of Arabia. Coal Depot is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Maculla. Town. Coast of Arabia. Coal Depot

Robert Moresby , 1840

Maculla. Town. Coast of Arabia. Coal Depot is a watercolor work on paper by the Romanticist artist Robert Moresby. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

This watercolour, executed by Captain Robert Moresby, records the coastal settlement of Maculla on the Arabian shoreline. The composition presents a compact town clinging to precipitous cliffs, with a few taller edifices rising above the tightly packed structures. Calm waters host two small boats near the shore, while the cliff faces display stepped rock strata rendered in delicate washes.

Subject & Meaning

The image captures Maculla as a functional port town, its architecture tightly integrated with the natural limestone cliffs that dominate the landscape.

The image captures Maculla as a functional port town, its architecture tightly integrated with the natural limestone cliffs that dominate the landscape. The modest vessels suggest everyday maritime activity, while the orderly arrangement of buildings reflects a community adapted to the constraints of the steep terrain. The work offers a visual document of 19th‑century coastal life in the Red Sea region.

Technique & Style

Moresby employs soft, translucent watercolours to model light and shadow across the cliffs and townscape. Layered washes convey the stepped geology of the rock faces, while finer brushwork defines the outlines of the structures and boats. The palette is restrained, emphasizing atmospheric clarity and the tranquil quality of the sea.

History & Provenance

The drawing likely dates from a period after Moresby’s Red Sea survey, possibly during a subsequent voyage to India. A comparable view of Maculla appears in F.R. Chesney’s 1850 report on the Euphrates and Tigris surveys. The watercolour entered the museum’s collection in 1966, purchased from the antiquarian dealer Appleby’s on Ryder Street for £18, as recorded by Rodney Searight.