Accession Number1994/2.28.9
TitleEglise Sainte-Anne – St Anne's church
Artist(s)Felix BonfilsArtist NationalityFrench (culture or style)Object Creation Datecirca 1867-1885Medium & Supportalbumen print on paper Dimensions 10 15/16 in x 14 in (27.78 cm x 35.56 cm)
Credit LineGift of Margaret and Howard BondSubject matterIn this photograph, two bearded men in long white robes and fezzes stand near the southwest corner of Saint Anne’s Church in Jerusalem, which is bathed in sunlight. Despite their proximity and the similarity of their apparel, the relationship between these men remains unclear, as they do not interact with one another. While these men draw attention as the only signs of human life in the photograph, the picture’s overall emphasis is on the architecture of the Christian edifice behind them. Small lancet windows pierce the thick stone walls of the church, whose weight is supported by rudimentary buttresses. Fragments of classical architecture, likely spolia, litter the right-hand foreground, and another classical column can be seen standing upright in the left background, cordoned off by a short fence. This image is one of hundreds of photographs made throughout Bonfils's career which purport to document various landscapes, cityscapes, and people of the eastern Mediterranean.
Physical DescriptionExterior view of a stone structure with dome. Two men stand near one of the corners of this building in the lower middle ground. Trees, bushes, and architectural fragments populate the right foreground.
Primary Object ClassificationPhotographCollection AreaPhotographyRightsIf you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit
http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Keywords
barrels (containers)
churches (buildings)
domes (architectural elements)
exterior views
flags
men (male humans)
spolia
travel photography