Painting Of Jerusalem Gate

...A few moments brought us to the crest of the hill Scoups, whence 
Titus and the Crusaders had gazed on the devoted city with very 
different emotions. In the first sight of Jerusalem there is a thrill of 
interest which is scarcely weakened by repetition, and one can only
pity the man who is not, for the moment at least, imbued with the
pilgrim spirit, and does not feel the sight to be one of the privileges of
his life. Enshrined in the Christian's affections, linked with every
feeling of faith and hope - "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right
hand forget her cunning." 

Henry Baker Trisram, Travels in Palestine, Diary 1863-1864


For generations, Zion (The Holy Land) was the spiritual homeland of
many people over the world, however, untill the nineteenth century it
was dangerous to attemp the journey over land and sea from the
western world.

Jews and Muslims that lived in Jerusalem did not charter the landscape
or the holy sites because their religion prohibited doing that.
In the beginning of the nineteenth century, after the crumbling of the
Ottaman Empire, the first travelers appeared. They began to record
Jerusalem in literature, drawings, paintings and later by camera, all
those places that were known only by imagination. Western culture was
ready and hungry for this kind of art.

As you look through the paintings, notice the difference in attitude the
artists depict. It is very interesting to compare these paintings to 
the reality that we know today.

In your visit in the gate you will have 20 steps 

 Here is the Index of the Painting Gate 



All pictures in this gate where taken from the Book
"Painting Palestine in the Nineteen Century"
By Professor Yehoshua Ben-Arieh, Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
ISBN 965-217-084-4
(C) All Rights Reserved.