Artwork
Qab Elias
Qab Elias is an oil painting by the Orientalist artist Moustafa Farroukh. It dates from 1939 and is held in the collection of the Sursock Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1939, *Qab Elias* is an oil on canvas by Lebanese painter Moustafa Farroukh. The composition presents a quiet rural setting in the village of Qab Elias, situated on the slopes of Mount Lebanon. A lone figure and a donkey traverse a tree‑lined lane that leads toward a settlement crowned by a minaret, all rendered with a calm, atmospheric tone.
Subject & Meaning
The painting captures everyday life in a Lebanese mountain village, emphasizing the relationship between people, animals, and the landscape.
The painting captures everyday life in a Lebanese mountain village, emphasizing the relationship between people, animals, and the landscape. The solitary villager beside a fence and the donkey suggest routine labor, while the distant minaret anchors the scene within a cultural and religious context, reflecting the artist’s interest in portraying local identity within a broader Orientalist framework.
Technique & Style
Farroukh employs a restrained palette of earth tones, using subtle gradations of light to model forms and convey depth. The handling of oil paint creates a soft chiaroscuro that defines the foliage, the path, and the figures without harsh contrast. Brushwork remains smooth, contributing to the tranquil ambience and reinforcing the painting’s lyrical, realist approach typical of early 20th‑century Lebanese art.
History & Provenance
*Qab Elias* entered the collection of the Sursock Museum, a major cultural institution in Beirut, where it remains on view. The work is part of Farroukh’s extensive oeuvre that established him as a prominent figure in Lebanese modern painting, and it exemplifies his contribution to the Orientalist movement during the interwar period.
Artist & collection
Artist
Moustafa Farroukh (Arabic: مصطفى فروخ; 1901 – 1957) was one of Lebanon's most prominent painters of the 20th century.
