Babylon

Donald Maxwell was commissioned in 1918 to document the activities of British naval forces in the Middle East. This journey resulted in over 100 drawings, which were used to illustrate lively accounts of his travels.In his book, A Dweller in Mesopotamia, he commented upon contemporary naval activities along the Tigris at Basra and Baghdad, while also being deeply aware of the ancient history of the area, referring to it as the original ‘Garden of Eden’. Maxwell’s shimmering evocation of the ruins of Babylon conveys the awe that must have gripped British forces on encountering the ancient city.