[AJR]

A plea for help to identify a place in a painting. Can anyone tell me where this place is? Painted by James Wilson Carmichael in 1851, does anyone know where this might be?

A friend asked me for my advice, wondering whether the place was in Scotland. Personally, I am of the opinion it is not in Britain (hence the inclusion in this forum). I will not tell you my thoughts (or logical reasons behind them). I would like to hear what other think - and why.
Thanks

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[Duncan]

My first impression was the bak side of St. Michael's Mount
I ran the image though our programmes and the text at the bottom just says his name and date.
I'm still looking and I hope this helps others in the search.


Carmichael, John Wilson (1800 - 1868)

Biography
John Wilson Carmichael was born in Newcastle in 1800. He was the son of a ship's carpenter and was apprenticed to a ship builder before turning to painting as a full time career. Carmichael studied under Thomas Miles Richardson Snr, who had a studio near to Carmichael's in Blackett Street. He travelled extensively visiting Holland, Italy and the Baltic (where he recorded the Crimean War for the Illustrated London News).

Carmichael was an extremely versatile artist, painting landscape and architectural subjects. However, marine painting was his first love. Many of his pictures are of the North-East coast of Newcastle, in particular Whitby and Scarborough. Several of Carmichael's paintings are in public collections. The Laign Art Gallery held a Centenary Exhibition of his work in 1968.

Exhibited: The Northern Academy of Arts, Newcastle; The Royal Academy (1835-1849); The British Institute; The Royal Society of British Artists in Suffolk Street.

Museums: The National Maritime Museum at Greenwich; Gateshead, Sunderland and Newcastle Museums

[Duncan]

Ok Andrew ... you won this trivia question,
I'm still looking

[AJR]

Thanks duncan. I did the usual checks on the internet. Given that this was painted in the mid 1800s, there are very few coastal castles in Britain that would have been complete at that time - and none that appear so extensive.

There are a couple of clues however.

Firstly, one of the buildings within the fortified town has a domed roof - something we don't see here in Britain.

Secondly, look at the small vessel in the centre of the picture, which has three seated men and one standing. The one standing is wearing what looks like a fez - again, something I would not expect to see round Britain.

There may be other details which I have over-looked, so any help is appreciated.

[Gordon]

It could feasibly be one of 'The Three Cities' which are clustered around Valetta in Malta, Senglea,Cospicua or Vittorioso, though the Fez aren't clear enough to be definately identified as such they're not a Maltese form of dress, the architecture is similar. It's difficult to be certain, since Germany's WW2 siege of the island destroyed so much of the skyline...and much else. There was a two day period when they dropped more bombs on the island than they dropped on London in the whole war. I'd certainly say it's Mediterranean, though the flag isn't much of a clue, even the individual cities and towns of many mediterranean countries have their own flags, and I doubt that a red saltire on a white background isn't too uncommon.
Here's one view of Senglea.

Or, the Old Town Ibiza......there still are many medieval fortified coastal towns still around the Med.

[JohnC]

Any solution to this?

Seems probably that it is somewhere in the Ottoman empire - the appearance of the fez, coupled with apparantly pre-1918 boats/ships suggest this (the scene appears to be well pre 19th century, I use 1918 as a reference as obviously the Ottoman empire ceased to exist after WW1). The hill the castle sits on appears to be grassy, which my limited knowledge of Geography indicates it is not in Arabia/East Med or anywhere with a desert-like terrain (although again, it could be that it sits on one of these lush river valleys which support large populations in these elsewhere arrid places).

As to an actual location, I'm stumped! And also very curious to learn where this majestic castle is - any further thoughts Andrew?

John

[AJR]

This painting is dated 1851, and a friend of mine in the fine art business (Valuations Dept at Sotheby's) sent me the image because he couldn't identify it. He assumed it was British, and therefore expected me to solve the problem regarding its identity.

Had it been British, I would have been able to help.

It was apparently listed as being Scarborough - which it clearly isn't. The only logical reason for such a listing is that the artist died in Scarborough.

Due to the reasons I gave earlier, I suggested somewhere in the Mediterranean - possibly Turkey or one of the larger Greek Islands. He then told me that the artist HAD painted some places in the Med, and he would continue his search - although strangely, he ruled out Malta.

I'm still at a loss as to where it might be, but I'm hoping that my friend will be able to narrow his search sufficiently to find out where it is. If he comes up with an answer before anyone here does, I'll let you know.

Meanwhile, thank you for your input.

[JohnC]

Sorry, I meant to say pre-20th Century. I believe the fez was used by Turk administrators throughout the Ottoman empire and I have to agree with it being somewhere in the Med.

Good luck on locating it - wherever it is, it's an extremely beautiful Castle in my opinion, it has a certain drama about it which is among the features of castles which I love.

[Gordon]

Malta was perhaps ruled out because of the Fez, the Ottomans never captured it.
Many of the eastern med islands do have fortified cities, which through the years changed hands many times.
Could it be Crete?

[Gordon]

Crete? Close, but more likely the Acropolis of Lindos, on Rhodes!




(It looks like Malta because it was built by the Knights of St John, aka the Knights of Rhodes then Knights of Malta)