About the BRF Collection
The Byzantine Research Fund Archive (BRF) is a unique collection of architectural drawings, photographs and notebooks created from the late 19th century to the middle of the 20th century by a small team of British architects trained in the Arts & Crafts tradition whose studies of Byzantium shaped the Byzantine Revival in later years.
The collection contains over 1,500 drawings and 1,000 photographs, numerous notebooks and the corporate records associated with the Byzantine Research and Publication Fund, the original body created in 1907 to support this work. Although the Fund was associated with the BSA from the time it was founded, it was not until 1937 that the BSA formerly took over the property and operation of it. The BRF Archive contains records of Byzantine monuments in Greece, Turkey, Italy, the Near East, Egypt, and Cyprus. In some cases, the collection contains the only record of a monument before its destruction in modern times, the most important example being the church of Hagios Demetrios in Thessalonike which was almost completely destroyed in the Great Fire of 1917 shortly after being recorded by one of the BRF architects, Walter Sykes George. It also contains personal records of the following architects; Robert Weir Schultz, Sidney Howard Barnsley, Walter Sykes George, William Harvey, Harold Swainson, Peter Gus Corbett, and A.H.S (Peter) Megaw. The aspirations of the BRF Archive Project today are to make these materials accessible to a wide range of researchers.
Dome mosaics (close view of the Virgin). The mosaic decoration in the dome is dated to the late 9th c. The photograph is signed in ink and pencil 'W.S.George' in the lower right-hand corner. Further annotation in pencil survives.
View from south-east. The photograph is labelled in white 'Iki Scherefee'. It is initialed in pencil in the lower right-hand corner 'W.H.'. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. See also photo no.: 02/11/11/02 (BRF no. 02/01/07/266).
View from south-east. The photograph is initialed in pencil in the lower right-hand corner 'W.H.'. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. See also photo no.: 02/11/11/01 (BRF no. 02/01/07/265).
View from north-east. The photograph is initialed in pencil in the upper right-hand corner 'W.H.'. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. See also photos nos.: 02/11/11/04 (BRF no. 02/01/07/268) and 02/11/12/01 (BRF no 02/01/07/269).
View from north-east. The photograph is initialed in pencil in the upper right-hand corner 'W.H.'. Further annotation in pencil and ink survives at the back of the photograph. See also photos nos.: 02/11/11/03 (BRF no. 02/01/07/267) and 02/11/12/01 (BRF no 02/01/07/269).
View from north-east. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. See also photos nos.: 02/11/11/03 (BRF no. 02/01/07/267) and 02/11/12/04 (BRF no 02/01/07/268).
View from north-east (upper part of the church). Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. See also photo no.: 02/11/11/03 (BRF no. 02/01/07/271).
View from north-east (upper part of the church). Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. See also photo no.: 02/11/11/02 (BRF no. 02/01/07/270).
View from the east. The photograph is labelled in white 'Iki Scherefee'. It is initialed in pencil in the upper right-hand corner 'W.H.'. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. See also photos nos.: 02/11/13/021 (BRF no. 02/01/07/273) and 02/11/13/02 (BRF no 02/01/07/274).
View from the east. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. See also photos nos.: 02/11/12/04 (BRF no. 02/01/07/272) and 02/11/13/02 (BRF no 02/01/07/274).
View from the east. Further annotation in pencil and ink survives at the back of the photograph. See also photos nos.: 02/11/12/04 (BRF no. 02/01/09/272) and 02/11/13/01 (BRF no 02/01/07/273).
View from the west. The photograph is labelled in white ink: 'Tchaoush Monastir'. It is initialed ('W.H') in the upper right-hand corner. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. See also photo no.: 02/11/13/04 (BRF no. 02/01/07/276).
View from the west. Further annotation in pencil and ink survives at the back of the photograph. See also photo no.: 02/11/13/03 (BRF no. 02/01/07/275)
Dome - The Pantokrator. This is a post-byzanine painting. The photograph is initialed: 'W.H' in the lower right-hand corner. Further annotation in pencil and ink survives at the back. See also photo no.: 02/11/14/02 (BRF no. 02/01/07/278)
Dome - The Pantokrator. This is a post-byzanine painting. The photograph is labelled in white ink: 'Tchaoush Monastir'. It is initialed ('W.H') in the lower right-hand corner. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. See also photo no.: 02/11/14/01 (BRF no. 02/01/07/277).
Modern (?) iconostasis. Further annotation in pencil and ink survives at the back of the photograph.
Genaral view of the walls and the towers from the east. This is a commercial photograph. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
Angle tower on the acropolis. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. Commercial photograph possibly purchased by W.S. George
Lefkos Pyrgos (The White Tower), the landmark of the City of Thessalonike, was built in the 15th c. as a defence tower next to the coastline. For many years it served as a prison and/or a guardhouse. Currenty, it hosts a collection of Byzantine/post-Byzantine artefacts, mainly icons. This is a commercial photograph. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
View from the south-west. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back.
View from the north-east. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back.
View of the interior looking north-east. This church is in Christianoupolis, Messinia The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back.
Distant view. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back.
Distant view. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. Created by Caton?(donor), R C
Close view of cave-church. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. Created by Caton?(donor), R C
Distant view of the castle from the coastline. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back.
View of the interior (the columns). The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back.
South-east view. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photo no: 02/11/23/01 (BRF no: 02/01/15/005).
South-east view. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photo no: 02/11/20/02 (BRF no: 02/01/15/004).
View of interior looking east. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back.
Fresco icon (the Virgin with Child) and frame (left pilar of the iconostasis). The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back.
Fresco icon (Enthroned Christ) and frame (right pilar of the iconostasis). The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back.
Detail of apse fresco (Two HierarcH.S.). The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photo no. 02/11/12/27/01 (BRF no 02/01/15/10).
Detail of apse fresco (Two HierarcH.S.). The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photo no. 02/11/12/26/01 (BRF no 02/01/15/9).
View of courtyard. This is a Hellenic Society photograph (H.S. 7632). It is signed (P.R.Jones) and annotated in pencil at the back.
View of courtyard. This is a Hellenic Society photograph (H.S. 7633). It is signed (P.R.Jones) and annotated in pencil at the back.
Monastery bells. This is a Hellenic Society photograph (H.S. 5558). It is signed (C.J.J. Mansford) and annotated in pencil at the back.
Interior of the Cave of the Apocalypse, Patmos which is about halfway up the path that leads to the monastic complex of Hagios Ioannis o Theologos. This print is copy of a Hellenic Society photograph (H.S. 5557) as noted in pencil on the back of the photo along with the name Rev. T.A. Moxon who is probably the donor but not necessarily the creator. See SPHS Image Collection for more details
View of the castle and the town from south-west. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
The castle - View from the south with landscape. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
The castle - View from the south with part of the town. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
The castle - View from the south with part of the town. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
The castle - View from the south with part of the town. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
The castle - View from the east with part of the town. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
West façade (the door). Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
View from the south. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
View from the south. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
Head of son Alexius (south gallery- east end)- John II Komnenus and Irene panel. The photograph is stamped at the back with information concerning reproduction rights.
South-west view. This is a commercial photo. The photograph was found along with 7 more by the same creator/artist inside a copy of 'A Letter to the Right Honourable Lord Aldenham upon the subject of a Byzantine Evangelion' by Edwin Freshfield.
View of the east end. This is a commercial photo. The photograph was found along with 7 more by the same creator/artist inside a copy of 'A Letter to the Right Honourable Lord Aldenham upon the subject of a Byzantine Evangelion' by Edwin Freshfield.