DOMES
signed Durra lower left
collage on card
34 x 46 cm; 13 1/2 x 18in
65 x 66 cm; 25 1/2 x 26in (framed)

Property of a Private Collector, London

Provenance
By descent from the artist's studio

Mohanna Durra’s collage works are crafted from carefully cut paper fragments of prints of his original paintings. The current lot depicting domes is quite unique as the artist was not accustomed to painting these structures in this manner - when he painted buildings they would be more conventional cuboid shapes, rather than curvilinear domes.

Mohanna Durra was a Jordanian painter whose profound influence shaped not only the visual language of Jordanian modern art, but also the institutional foundation of art education in the region. Over a career spanning several decades, Durra introduced abstraction, expressionism and cubism to Jordan, and was celebrated for his bold manipulation of form and colour - compositions recognised for their expressive brushwork, cubist geometries, and intimate interplay of light.

Durra established the Fine Arts Section at the Department of Culture and Art in Amman, as well as Jordan’s first art studio for the professional training of local artists. His international stature grew through major exhibitions across Europe, the United States, Russia, and the Middle East, with notable shows at prestigious venues such as the Palazzo Venezia and the Venice Biennale in Italy, the National Museum of Fine Arts in Valletta, Malta, and the Central Hall of the Austrian Parliament in Vienna. His works were also displayed in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and exhibited at the Pera Museum in Istanbul.

Among reputable private collectors, David Rockefeller personally added a painting by Durra to his collection following a visit to Amman in the 1970s. In addition, King Hussein of Jordan was a longtime patron, frequently presenting Durra’s works as official diplomatic gifts during state visit.

His legacy endures as an artistic pioneer, educator, and ambassador for the advancement of Arab art.