R. Hirdman-Smith Damascus Gate, Jerusalem

Updated August 7, 2026

Lot number155
AuctionArt Auction Tuesday August 11th
DateAugust 11, 2026 at 6:59 PM EDT
Auction houseErin Auctions
LocationErin, ON

Artist: R. Hirdman-Smith Title: Damascus Gate, Jerusalem Medium: Colour woodblock print (or colour block print) on paper Signed: Signed in pencil lower right, "R. Hirdman-Smith"; titled in pencil lower left Sight Size: 6.5 × 9 in. Frame Size: 13.5 × 17 in. A finely executed colour block print depicting the historic Damascus Gate (Bab al-Amud), one of the principal entrances to the Old City of Jerusalem. Rendered almost entirely in atmospheric blue tones with subtle highlights of warm light in the windows, the composition emphasizes the monumentality of the medieval stone gateway while small figures animate the foreground. The dramatic use of light and shadow lends the work a quiet, contemplative mood characteristic of early twentieth-century architectural prints. Damascus Gate remains one of Jerusalem's most recognizable landmarks, originally constructed in its present form during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in the sixteenth century and serving as the city's principal northern entrance. Artist Biography: R. Hirdman-Smith was a twentieth-century British printmaker known for producing finely crafted colour woodblock and block prints depicting historic architecture and landscapes throughout Europe and the Middle East. His works often feature dramatic lighting, restrained colour palettes, and careful architectural detail, reflecting both traditional printmaking techniques and a strong interest in historic urban subjects. His prints continue to be collected for their decorative quality and evocative interpretations of notable landmarks.

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R. Hirdman-Smith Damascus Gate, Jerusalem

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