Name of Object:

Rysul Khyma from the SW and the situation of the Troops at ½ past 2 pm, November 13th, 1809

Location:

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (Sharjah)

Holding Institution:

Sharjah Art Museum / Sharjah Museums Department

 About Sharjah Museums Authority, Sharjah

Date of Object:

First published April 1813

Author:

R. Temple, HM 65th Regiment, Sixteen views; I. Clark, Sculpt.; William Haines, Publisher (William Haines: 21/6/1778, Bedhampton, Hampshire, England-William Haines: 24/7/1848, London)

Inventory Number:

SM2006-1547

Material(s) / Technique(s):

Coloured etching

Dimensions:

505 mm x 602 mm (framed); image: 215 mm x 358 mm

Provenance:

London

Description:

In this image, the artist - a soldier with the British forces attacking and devastating Qawasim strongholds in 1809/10, records the wholescale devastation of Ras al Khaimah on the afternoon of November 13th, 1809. Looking at the town from the southwest, he records in graphic detail the inferno British troups visited on both the town and the Qawasim's majestic dhows. Both are seen being consumed by a firewall of flames, the smoke billowing densely above. A large contingent of inactive British troops is seen standing along the perimeters of the town, unconcerned by the devastation behind them. In the foreground on the left, a group of workers is instructed by British officers to remove things from a burning builiding, which - interestingly - is marked with a large cross on its side wall. Eye witnesses to this event record that the town was cannonaded since the day before, while troops stormed strategic positions. By 4 pm on the 13th, all the Qawasim's vessels were burning, together with their naval stores and houses, most of which were looted by the British forces.

Citation of this web page:

Ulrike al-Khamis "Rysul Khyma from the SW and the situation of the Troops at ½ past 2 pm, November 13th, 1809" in "Sharing History", Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://sharinghistory.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;AWE;ua;85;en

Prepared by: Ulrike Al-Khamis

MWNF Working Number: UA 086