Who painted Jounieh Bey?

Jounieh Bey was painted by Moustafa Farroukh in 1939.

Where can I see Jounieh Bey?

Jounieh Bey is held by Sursock Museum.

Artwork

Jounieh Bey

Moustafa Farroukh , 1939

Jounieh Bey is an oil painting by Moustafa Farroukh. It dates from 1939 and is held in the collection of the Sursock Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1939 by Lebanese painter Moustafa Farroukh, *Jounieh Bey* is a modestly sized work on plywood that portrays a tranquil stretch of Mediterranean coastline near Mount Lebanon. The composition balances a sun‑lit beach, a small red‑roofed house, and a solitary tree with the distant sea and cloud‑capped mountains, inviting a calm, contemplative viewing experience.

Subject & Meaning

The scene captures a typical summer shoreline of the Jounieh area, emphasizing the harmony between human habitation and the natural landscape. The modest house and lone tree suggest everyday life, while the expansive sea and looming peaks convey a sense of place rooted in Lebanon’s geographic identity, reflecting Farroukh’s interest in regional scenery.

Technique & Style

Farroukh applied oil paint directly onto plywood, allowing the wood’s texture to interact with visible brushstrokes that lend the surface a tactile quality. A restrained palette of blues, earth tones, and the red roof creates depth through atmospheric perspective, while subtle shifts in light model the forms of sea, sand, and mountain.

History & Provenance

The work belongs to the permanent collection of the Sursock Museum in Beirut, where it has been displayed as part of the institution’s holdings of early 20th‑century Lebanese art. It forms part of Farroukh’s extensive oeuvre—over two thousand pieces—produced during a career that also included several publications on art theory and practice.