{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O797787"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O797787/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019LH6092/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019LH6092/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2019LH6092","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O797787/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O797787","accessionNumber":"D.1175-1908","objectType":"Drawing","titles":[{"title":"Composition sketch for the painting  \"In the Bezestein, El Khan Khalili, Cairo.\"","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This rough sketch was the starting point for a highly-finished watercolour, signed and dated 1860, entitled <i>In the Bezestein, El Khan Khalili, Cairo</i>, now in the Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery. An oil version of this watercolour was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1861 [266]. The man in the finished picture is in fact a self-portrait of the artist, wearing a dark-blue outfit, suitable for a wealthy Ottoman subject, with a sword on his knees. At some point in the 20th century, it was given the incorrect title of T<i>he</i> <i>Carpet Seller.</i>\n\nThe narrow arched passage bears a strong resemblance to that depicted in two painted versions of a single scene by Lewis, one a watercolour entitled <i>The Cairo Bazaar</i> (Cecil Higgins Art Gallery, Bedford) and the other an oil painting of 1872 entitled <i>The Bezestein Bazaar of El Khan Khalil</i> (private collection). A further late work in oils, <i>A Cairo Bazaar, The Della'l</i> of 1875, is mentioned by Lewis's great grand nephew, Major-General Micheal Lewis, CBE, in relation to the Khan el-Khalili bazaar, as an evocative portrayal of the life amidst its 'many archways and mysterious shadows'.\n\nVery few of Lewis's rough sketches survive, but this group bequeathed by his widow [D.1164-D.1198-1908] often contain his first thoughts. They are either composition sketches, or details sketched for inclusion in the finished watercolour and oil paintings.","physicalDescription":"A raid pen and ink sketch showing a view down a street with arches overhead, with a male figure in the foreground. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Lewis, John Frederick (RA POWCS)","id":"A8614"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"pen and ink","id":"x30618"}],"techniques":[{"text":"drawing (image-making)","id":"AAT54196"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Pen and ink and pale green paper","categories":[{"text":"Drawings","id":"THES48966"}],"styles":[{"text":"Mid-Victorian","id":"x31268"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2019LH6092"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLH (VA)","id":"THES49654"},"free":"","case":"PD","shelf":"70","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"drawing","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Cairo","id":"x28776"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1841-1850","earliest":"1841-01-01","latest":"1850-12-31"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"42.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"27","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Bequeathed by Mrs J. F. Lewis, via her executors and H. H. Finch. This is one of a group of rough sketches [D.1164-D.1198-1908]. Marian Lewis retained them perhaps for sentimental reasons. They had been in her husband's studio up to his death in 1876,  either because they did not sell, or were not put into the Artist's sale in 1855. She did not subsequently include them in the studio sale of 1877.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"A rough  pen and ink sketch of a seated man in a market","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Lewis, Michael. <u>John Frederick Lewis</u>. Leigh-on-Sea: F. Lewis, 1978. pp. 22-23. ISBN 853170460."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Unique","id":"THES48864"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[{"text":"Cairo","id":"x28776"}],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"Street scenes","id":"x35546"},{"text":"Architecture, Buildings","id":"x31777"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["D.1175-1908"],"accessionNumberNum":"1175","accessionNumberPrefix":"D","accessionYear":1908,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-20","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-30","availableToBook":false}}