02 Paintings, Middle East Artists, Louay Kayyali's Maaloula, with Footnotes, #65

Louay Kayyali (Syrian, 1934-1978)

Maaloula, c. 1963

Oil on canvas

29¼ x 36in. (75 x 94.5cm.)

Private collection

Maaloula is one of the main subjects in Kayyali’s oeuvre; the present work is painted only two years after the artist graduated from the Accademia di Belle Arti and it is one of the finest portrayals of this mountainous Aramaic town. All elements are intricately balanced, orchestrated by his ability in articulating the subtleties of line and perspective of the holy city’s mountain and its sheltering village and soothing skies.

The village of Maaloula is located to the northeast of Damascus and built into the rugged mountainside, with a population of just a few hundred. Maaloula, from the Aramaic word ma'la meaning "entrance", is the only place where the western dialect of Aramaic, the language of Jesus Christ, is still spoken. It is home to two important monasteries, Mar Sarkis and Mar Taqla. The Mar Sarkis monastery was named after a Roman soldier, executed for his Christian beliefs. The Mar Taqla monastery holds the remains of St. Taqla (Thecla), daughter of one of Seleucid's princes, and pupil of St. Paul. According to legend, in the 1st century AD, soldiers pursued St.Taqla and her father because of her Christian faith. She came upon a mountain and after praying, the mountain split to reveal a gorge like that of Petra, through which she escaped. The town is named after this entrance to the mountain. Naturally there are many variations of this story among the residents of Maaloula, which adds to its historical and spiritual significance. More on Maaloula

Louai Kayyali

Maloula, c. 1965

Oil on canvas

76 x 48 cm.; 30 by 18 7/8 in.

Private collection

Louay Kayali, (1934–1978) was a Syrian modern artist. Kayali was born in Aleppo, Syria in 1934 and studied art in the Accademia di Belle Arti after having studied at the Al-Tajhiz School where his work was first exhibited in 1952. He met Syrian artist Wahbi Al-Hariri there and the two would share a friendship for the rest of Kayali's life. Al-Hariri would become his mentor as he was for artist Fateh Moudarres that Hariri introduced to Kayali in 1955. Moudarress and Kayali would together represent Syrian modern art at the Venice Biennial Fair. He suffered from depression and died in 1978 from burns incurred from his bed catching fire, reportedly from a cigarette. More on Louay Kayali

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