New House in Beirut, Lebanon
May 27-31, 1868
Classification
architecture
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Louis P. Church
Accession Number
1917-4-918
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Frederic Edwin Church, a leading figure of the Hudson River School, created this work during his travels through the Middle East in 1868. Known for his luminous landscapes and precise attention to natural and built environments, Church visited Beirut at a time when the city was emerging as a cosmopolitan port under Ottoman rule. The drawing, dated May 27–31, captures a newly constructed house, reflecting his interest in recording architecture encountered during his journeys. Classified as an architectural study and held in the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the piece offers a glimpse into C...