The old Crusader fort of Al Khafra finally surrendered to Saladin after a long siege of many months with the defenders allowed to leave with safe passage to Jerusalem. The ramparts were restored after much damage by cannon fire and siege engines apart from an entrance being made for ships to pass through to the burgeoning city within as they were so confident that no further attacks would be made by the retreating Crusader forces. Al Khafra flourished under the Caliphate with an impressive mosque built over the site of the original church and many fine buildings and palaces lining the streets including a university and madrassah. The city became famous all over the Moslem world as a seat of learning and power drawing scholars from as far afield as Europe and India to it's libraries and palaces. It was said that all those that see the city under a full moon are blessed with a life of great fulfillment.
Well that's what somebody told me over some beers in a Cairo hotel....
This painting will be up for sale on Every Day Original on my upcoming slot on 28 February.
I enjoy painting these Orientalist fantasies which seem to be finding a ready market as every one so far has sold within hours of posting on the EDO site. I think behind all of them is the influence of The Arabian Nights paintings by Edmund Dulac...
Oil on linen 16" x 12".
There is a step-by-step progress through this painting including the colours I used in previous posts on this blog.
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