Composite Aerial Photograph

AssociatedAssociated with James McBey (Newburgh, Scotland, 1883 - 1959)

Datec. 1917

Object NamePhotograph

Mediumphotograph

ClassificationsMcBey

Dimensions34 x 24.8cm

AcquisitionPresented in 1988 by Mrs Marguerite McBey.

LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub

Object numberABDAG008364

Keywords

About MeAerial photograph depicting the Palestinian cities of Ramallah and Al Bireh, which are located to the north of Jerusalem and adjacant to one another. The photograph consists of four seperate images that have been cut out and composited together with sellotape. Ramallah and Al Bireh are annotated with red pen, certain areas of alitude have been highlighted with a dotted red circle, and cooridnates have also been penned in parts.

This photograph may have been used by James McBey when he sailed for Cairo on 27 May 1917 to become an Official War Artist with the British Expeditionary Force. McBey's task was to make drawings of the appropriate war scenes in Egypt and Palestine for the purposes of propaganda and historical record.

This object is part of an archive that belonged to Marguerite McBey. As a result of her generosity, Aberdeen Art Gallery holds the largest archive of James McBey's work, including prints, drawings, sketchbooks, oil paintings and memorabilia such as this photograph.