Castle in Cyprus

English, as on the record

Brabazon embarked on his travels to Europe, North Africa and the Holy Land in 1860. During a stop in Cyprus, he visited Famagusta and Kyrenia. ‘Castle in Cyprus’ presents the Kyrenia Castle drawn from the east and looking northwest. Most probably, the view is taken from Karakoumi village. The scene is depicted with Moslem figures in their long robes since Karakoumi was a predominantly Turkish hamlet. Brabazon developed his watercolour techniques with a liberal use of Chinese white beneath each colour which gave his paintings a thicker texture and an almost three dimensional effect. He was one of the earliest impressionist British artists. The impressionist nature of this watercolour does not afford fine details of the architecture of the monument but rather an atmospheric view of a castle by the sea bathed in blue waters and light. John Ruskin declared in 1882 that ‘Brabazon is the only person since Turner at whose feet I can sit and worship and learn about colour’.

Inscription, as transcribed by CVAR

Inscribed on back: Castle in Cyprus