COLLECTION NAME:
R. H. C. Davis Notebooks Collection
Record
Identifier:
exws_RHCDavis_b1nb02_bk
Filename:
exws_RHCDavis_b1nb02_bk.tif
Title:
R. H. C. Davis Notebook 2
Creator:
Davis, R. H. C. (Ralph Henry Carless), 1918-1991
Date:
1944-03/1944-06
Description:
R. H. C. Davis's notebook describing architectural details of Islamic buildings from Hammamet (North Africa) to Italy. His title on the cover reads: "Vol. XIV from Hammamet (Tunisia) to Bolsena (Italy)". Another title on the inside front cover reads: "Vol. XIV which includes places in the Central Mediterranean, from Tunisia to Latium". Entries are organized by location and some include small illustrations of architectural details. The entry's content includes controversies related to the origins of architectural details, quotes from reference material from noted scholars such as George Marcais and local guides, document repeated patterns in architectural elements, and pose questions. Most entries include comments on the Roman historical and cultural influences on the architecture as well as personal reflections and reactions. Other comments include personal events such as "With Margaret Hawkins, taking 'Henry' home in the ambulance." The descriptions were recorded from March to June 1944, though some have later dates when the writer revisited the sites. Entries are written on the front of the page with corrections or later additions added on the back. Two maps were inserted at the end of the notebook, one of Sousse and the second of Kairouan.
Contents:
Bibliography cont. from XII to XIII; Ksar ar Menara, between Bir lou Ficha to Hammamet; Nabeul to its Crafts; Ruins of Riagu (Ksar es-Zit) by Bir Gou Rekba; Siagu, approximate plan of walls still visible; Mediterranean and History; Sfax Great Mosque; Sfax, the town; Mahdia and its Great Mosque; Mahdia, other antiquities; Amphitheatre of El Djem (Thysdrus); Syrian Architecture and the Roman Empire; Ancient Civilizations [chart]; Roman architecture in Tunisia as seen in the mosaics at the Musee Alaoui, Le Bando; Mosque with Three doors, Kairouan; The Great Mosque (side Okba) at Kairouan; The Zawiya of Sidi Abid el Ghariani, Kairouan; The Basilica of San Clemente, revisited; the Church of S. Flaviano, Montefiascone (North of Viterbo); Viterbo; Church of Santa Cristina (Bolsena); Index
Illustration Description:
The illustrations are pencil or pen drawings of wall masonry, map with Hammamet and Siagu, plan of walls at Siagu, a minaret from n. with corrections on the previous page, ground floor plan of the Great Mosque at Sfax, detail of merlons, portals at the Eastern end of the north facade, the doorway of the Mosque in Mahdia (north side), detail of stringcourse and cornice from gateway, building layout, facade of Basilica at Qalb Loze (from Mattern, p. 149), family tree of Middle Eastern cultures, floor plan of a church in Tunisia, floor plan of Roman houses in Tunisia, facade of Mosque with Three Doors in Kairouan, detail of capital (column) from Mihrab?, Lustra Tiles from Mihrab Wall 9, arch with sketch to show strict radiation round, foliage, rubbings from minbar, head of the tree of life (vine) from minbar, rubbings from Fatimid Maqsura, chair back at the top of the C9 minbar, tracery rubbing, facade and floor plan of the Church of S. Flaviano (Montefiascone), Lombardic tower in Viterbo, stone carvings and scrollwork at Church of Santa Cristina (Bolsena).
Subject:
Architectural drawings
Subject:
Islamic architecture
Subject:
Antiquities
Subject:
Architecture, Syrian
Subject:
Architecture, Roman
Subject:
Architecture, Ancient--Mediterranean Region
Buildings Identified:
Amphitheatre of El Jem (Tunisia)
Buildings Identified:
Qalb Lawzah (Syria)
Buildings Identified:
San Clemente (Church : Rome, Italy)
Buildings Identified:
Basilica di San Flaviano (Montefiascone, Italy)
Buildings Identified:
Santa Cristina (Church: Bolsena, Italy)
Places Identified:
Hammamat (Tunisia)
Places Identified:
Susah (Tunisia)
Places Identified:
Qayrawan (Tunisia)
Places Identified:
Rome (Italy)
Places Identified:
Nabeul (Tunisia)
Places Identified:
Mahdiyah (Tunisia)
Places Identified:
Viterbo (Italy)
Places Identified:
Sfax (Tunisia)
Places Identified:
Mediterranean Region
Places Identified:
Bolsena (Italy)
Places Identified:
El Jem (Tunisia)
People Identified:
Marcais, Georges, 1876-1962
People Identified:
McLelland, Bill
Keywords:
notebooks; Research; Minarets; Mosques; Towers; Archaeological sites; Ruins; Diaries; Maps; Floor plans; Travel; History; Architectural decorations & ornaments; Capitals (Columns); Tiles; Rubbings
Collection:
R. H. C. Davis Notebooks Collection
Location:
Europe
Time Period:
1940 - 1949
Language:
eng
Source:
R. H. C. Davis Collection (02-exws_davis), Notebook 2, "Vol. XIV from Hammamet (Tunisia) to Bolsena (Italy) March-June 1944", Box 1, Folder 2, Western Michigan University Special Collections
References:
Hutt, Antony. North Africa Islamic architecture. London: Scorpion Publications, 1977.
Format:
image/tiff
Rights Status:
In Copyright.
Access Rights:
Digital reproduction published by Western Michigan University Library and made available for private study, scholarship or research use under applicable U.S. Law. Access to digital reproductions provided by the Zhang Legacy Collections Center, Western Michigan University.
Type:
Text
Publisher:
Western Michigan University
Digital Date:
2024