Sketches of a trip to Spain: Capilla de Villaviciosa 1836

John Frederick Lewis sketched this view of the Capilla de Villaviciosa in Spain during one of his trips between 1832 and 1834. Lewis was part of a wave of British artists drawn to the Iberian Peninsula, often seeking the ‘exotic’ and ‘picturesque.’ This sketch depicts a space laden with cultural and religious history, with a group of figures included to provide a sense of scale and perhaps local color. The architectural details, rendered with precise draftsmanship, highlight the blend of Islamic and Christian influences in the chapel's design. Lewis's choice to focus on this particular space speaks to the complex interactions between cultures, religions, and artistic traditions that defined Spain. What does it mean to travel and represent a culture that is not your own? Consider the act of observation and interpretation, and whose stories get told through art. How does Lewis, as an outsider, capture the essence of a place marked by layers of historical and cultural exchange?