File:Artists and Arabs - or, sketching in sunshine (1870) (14589347220).jpg

Identifier: artistsarabsorsk1870blac (find matches)
Title: Artists and Arabs : or, sketching in sunshine
Year: 1870 (1870s)
Authors: Blackburn, Henry, 1830-1897
Subjects:
Publisher: London : Sampson Low, Son, and Marston
Contributing Library: Boston Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Public Library

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uniforms and medals of the Chasseurs dAfrique— 24 ARTISTS AND ARABS. Chap. II. as we see the children of both nations at highromps together—as the sweet sea-breeze that fansus so gently, bears into the newly constructedharbour together, a corvette of the ImperialMarine and a suspicious-looking raking craftwith latteen sails—as Marochettis equestrianstatue of the Duke of Orleans, and a mosque,stand side by side before us—we have Algierspresented to us in the easiest way imaginable, and(without going through the ordeal of studyingits history or statistics) obtain some idea of thegeneral aspect of the place and of the people,and of the relative position of conquerors andconquered. As our business is principally with the Moorish,or picturesque side of things, let us first look atthe great Mosque which we glanced at as weentered the harbour, and part of which we havesketched for the reader. Built close to the waters edge, so close thatthe Mediterranean waves are sapping its founda-
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Chap. II. THE GREAT MOSQUE. 25 tions—with plain white shining walls, nearly desti-tute of exterior ornament, it is perhaps the mostperfect example of strength and beauty, and offitness and grace of line, that we shall see in anybuilding of this type.^ It is thoroughly Moorishin style, although built by a Christian, if we maybelieve the story, of which there are several ver-sions ; how the Moors in old days took captivea Christian architect, and promised him his libertyon condition of his building them a mosque; howhe, true to his own creed, dexterously introducedinto the ground plan the form of a cross; andhow the Moors, true also to their promise, gavehim his liberty indeed, but at the cannons mouththrough a window, seaward. The general outline of these mosques is fami-liar to most readers, the square white walls pierced ^ This beautiful architectural feature of the town has not escapedthe civilizing hand of the Frank; the last time we visited Algierswe found the oval window in the

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