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Porte de Damas – The Damascus gate

Felix Bonfils

Artwork Details

Porte de Damas – The Damascus gate
circa 1867-1885
Felix Bonfils
albumen print on paper
14 in x 10 15/16 in (35.56 cm x 27.78 cm)
Gift of Margaret and Howard Bond
1994/2.28.2

Description

Subject Matter:

In this photograph, an eclectic crowd of travelers stream out of the Damascus Gate, one of the main entrances to Jerusalem's so-called Old City. The bright sunlight which illuminates the scene drains out much detail in the uneven and partially decayed stone of the city walls. The interior of the gate appears like a black, rectangular chasm at the center of the image. This photograph is one of hundreds made by Bonfils that purport to document various important or famous sites in the regions of Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria.  

Physical Description:

Numerous people emanate out of a pointed-arch gate which cuts through a line of stone city walls. 

Usage Rights:

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