1833
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Uch Kleesa Convent (3 Churches) near the source of the Euphrates in Armenia is a 1833 watercolor by Godfrey Thomas Vigne, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This sketch shows a small stone bridge over a shallow, winding river. On the bridge, a few tiny figures walk or sit, while more people stand on the riverbank. In the distance, three small domed buildings peek over a hill, and a lone rider on horseback moves along the path. The artist used quick, sketchy lines to suggest movement in the water and grass, almost like scribbles. The scene feels quiet and a little lonely, with no big drama—just daily life by the river. If you like this style, check out Romanticism next.
The watercolour depicts the Üç Kilise, or Three Churches, near the Murat Su, a primary source of the Euphrates, once part of historic Armenia and now located in modern Turkey. Godfrey Thomas Vigne’s work captures the site’s architectural features in a historical context documented in his 1839 article for the *Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London* and expanded in his 1842 travel account. The drawing reflects the region’s significance as a geographical and cultural landmark. The artwork entered the collection through a purchase from C. Griffin in August 1978, with prior ownership…
Read the full account in the museum source.
Godfrey Thomas Vigne was an English amateur cricketer and traveller.
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