Thomas Allom (British, 1804-1872) A camel train arriving at Philadelphia; Travellers resting at Thyatira a pair, one signed and dated 'T. Allom 1861' (lower right) oil on canvas each 46 x 71cm (18 1/8 x 27 15/16in) (2) Footnotes: Provenance Anon. sale, Christie's, London, 8 February 1899, lot 46 (2 of 7). Private collection, Canada. Thence by descent. Thomas Allom was born in Lambeth, South London in March 1804. Articled to the architect Francis Goodwin, he attended the Royal Academy schools as an architectural student from 1828. He was a founder of the Royal Institute of British Architects, of which he became a Fellow in 1860. His reputation largely rests with his numerous designs for albums of topographical steel engravings that were mostly published between 1828-1845, when he travelled extensively in Great Britain, Belgium, France and Turkey. The ancient town of Philadelphia (now known as Alasehir) lies at the foot of the Bozdağ Mountain, in the Aegean region of Turkey. It was an important centre during the Early Christian and Byzantine periods, remaining an isolated Byzantine enclave surrounded by various Turkish states in the 14th Century, and is a titular see of the Catholic Church. Thyatira (now the Turkish town of Akhisar) was, like Philadelphia, among the seven major churches of Early Christianity, as mentioned in the Book of Revelation (also known as the Seven Churches of Revelation). Two further views from the series, The ancient church of St. John with the Citadel, Pergamos and The ruins of Laodicea were sold in these rooms, 3 December 2014, lot 112. These works were engraved, Philadelphia by J Cousen and Thyatira by A. Willmore, for George Virtue, circa 1863. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: * * VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com