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.
East elevation. The drawing is labelled in pencil: 'East Elevation'. Futher annotation in pencil survives.
Upper part: Plan of the church - Lower part: Plan of the dome. The drawing is entitled in pencil: 'Mistras Church of Saints Theodore'. It is numbered (no1) in pencil in the upper right-hand corner. It is labelled in ink: 'A Plan of the Church' , 'A Plan of the Dome'. Further annotation in pencil survives.
Upper part: Cross section - Lower part: Longitudinal section. The drawing is entitled in pencil: 'Mistras Church of Saints Theodore'. It is numbered (no 2) in pencil in the upper right-hand corner. It is labelled in ink: 'Section Looking East' , 'Section Looking North'. Further annotation in pencil survives.
Isometric section. The drawing is entitled in pencil: 'Mistras Church of Saints Theodore' and 'Mistras S. Nicolas Lower Town'. It is numbered (no 4) in pencil in the upper right-hand corner. It is labelled in pencil: 'An Isometric View of the Church'. In the second title the church has been mis-identified with that of Hagios Nikolaos.This drawing was used in the 1936 Exhibition and was numbered panel 478 in the catalogue
Upper part: West elevation - Lower part: East elevation. The drawing is entitled in pencil: 'Mistras Church of Saints Theodore'. It is numbered (no 3) in pencil in the upper right-hand corner. It is labelled in ink: 'West Elevation' , 'East Elevation'. Further annotation in pencil survives.
Ground plan showing the marble revetment (opus sectile) on the floor. The drawing is entitled in pencil: 'Mistras Church of St Demetrius'. It is labelled in ink: 'A Plan of the Church'. Further annotation in pencil survives.
Gallery plan. The drawing is entitled in pencil: 'Mistras Church of S. Demetrius'. It is labelled: 'A Plan of the Galleries'. Further annotation in pencil survives.
Upper part: Cross section looking west - Lower part: Cross section looking east. The drawing is entitled in pencil: 'Mistras Church of S. Demetrius'. It is labelled: 'Section Looking Towards Entrance' and 'Section Looking Towards Bema'. Further annotation in pencil survives.
Upper part: South-west elevation, Lower part: Longitudinal section. The drawing is entitled in pencil: 'Mistras Church of S. Demetrius'. It is labelled: 'South-West Elevation' and 'Section Looking North-East'. Further annotation in pencil survives. The drawing was exhibited in the 1936 Royal Academy Exhibition as panels 486 and 487 in catalogue
Upper part: South-east elevation, Lower part: North-west elevation. The drawing is entitled in pencil: 'Mistras Church of S. Demetrius'. It is labelled: 'South-East Elevation' and 'North-West Elevation'. Further annotation in pencil survives. It is numbered (no 5) in pencil in the upper right-hand corner. The drawing was exhibited in the 1936 Royal Academy exhibition as panels 484 and 485 in catalogue
Rubbing - Carved parapet slab. The rubbing is on newspaper ('The Scotsman') dated 23/04/1890.
Rubbing - Carved parapet slab. The rubbing is on newspaper ('The Scotsman') dated 23/04/1890.
Upper part: Longitudinal section - Lower part: Plan of Lower church (left), Plan of Upper church (right). The drawing is entitled in pencil: 'Mistras, Monastery of the Peribleptos'. It is labelled in ink: 'Section Looking North', 'A Plan of the Lower Church', ' A Plan of the Upper Church'. It Further annotation in pencil survives.
Parts of sculpture from a Pantokrator niche. This is a preliminary drawing. It is annotated in pencil.
Elevation and two plans of the refectory. The drawing is entitled in pencil. It was exhibited in the 1936 Royal Academy Exhibition as panel 495 in the catalogue
Plan of the church. The drawing is entitled in pencil: 'Mistras Church of St Sophia'. It is labelled in ink: 'A Plan of the Church'.
Plan of the church with marble (opus sectile) pavement. The drawing is entitled in ink: 'Church of S. Sophia Mistras'. It is labelled: 'A Plan of the Pavement'. It is annotated in pencil.
Upper part: First floor plan - Lower floor: Ground floor plan. The drawing is entitled in pencil: 'House no 1, Mistras'. It is labelled in pencil: 'Ground Floor Plan' and 'First Floor Plan'. Further annotation in pencil survives.
Upper part: First floor plan - Lower floor: Ground floor plan. The drawing is entitled in pencil: 'House no 1, Mistras'. It is labelled in pencil: 'Ground Floor Plan' and 'First Floor Plan'. Further annotation in pencil survives.
Cross section (left) - Longitudinal section (right). The drawing is entitled in pencil: 'House no1 Mistras'. It is labelled in pencil: 'Cross Section' - 'Long Section'. It is signed in pencil (W.George) in the upper right-hand corner. Further annotation in pencil survives.
Cross section (left) - Longitudinal section (right). The drawing is entitled in pencil: 'House no1 Mistras'. It is labelled in pencil: 'Cross Section' - 'Long Section'. Further annotation in pencil survives.
South elevation - East elevation - Cornelling (details). The drawing is entitled in pencil: 'House no 1 Mistras'. It is labelled in pencil: 'South Elevation', 'East Elevation', 'Details of Corbelling'. It is initialed in pencil (W.S.G) in the lower right-hand corner. Further annotation in pencil survives.
South elevation - East elevation - Cornelling (details). The drawing is entitled in pencil: 'House no 1 Mistras'. It is labelled in pencil: 'South Elevation', 'East Elevation', 'Details of Corbelling'. Further annotation in pencil survives. The drawing is annotated in two different handwritings in pencil on the reverse. It is signed: 'Houses at Mistras, W. S. George' and is dated: 'Drawings Mistras Houses from W.S. George 03/07/09' in a handwriting that strongly recalls that of R. Weir-Schultz. See: Corporate Records Letter from W.S.George to R.Weir-Schultz (July 1909).
Plans of the Three Storeys. The drawing is entitled in pencil: 'Mistras House no 2(of the Palaeologi)'. It is labelled in pencil: 'Lower Storey', 'Upper Storey' and 'Middle Storey'. It is signed in the upper right-hand corner (W. George) in pencil.
Plans of the three storeys. The drawing is entitled in pencil: 'Mistras House no 2(of the Palaeologi)'. It is labelled in pencil: 'Lower Storey', 'Upper Storey' and 'Middle Storey'. Further annotation in pencil survives.
From left to right: Longitudinal section - East elevation - North elevation. The drawing is entitled in pencil: 'Mistras House no 2(of the Palaeologi - Michael?)'. It is labelled in pencil: 'Long Section', 'East Elevation' and 'North Elevation'. It is signed in the upper right-hand corner (W. George) in pencil.
From left to right: Longitudinal section - East elevation - North elevation. The drawing is entitled in pencil: 'Mistras House no 2(of the Palaeologi - Michael?)'. It is labelled in pencil: 'Long Section', 'East Elevation' and 'North Elevation'.
Plans of the two storeys, South-east Elevation of the tower. The drawing is entitled in pencil: 'Mistras House no 3 Called 'Mamora' Probably because of a Roman Sarcophagus at the Base of Tower'. It is labelled in pencil: 'Upper Storey', 'S.E. Elevation', 'Lower Storey'. It is signed in pencil (W. George) in the lower right-hand corner.
Plans of the two storeys, South-east Elevation of the tower. The drawing is entitled in pencil: 'Mistras House no 3 Called 'Mamora' Probably because of a Roman Sarcophagus at the Base of Tower'. It is labelled in pencil: 'Upper Storey', 'S.E. Elevation', 'Lower Storey'.
Plan. The drawing is labelled in ink: 'A Plan of the Church'.It is entitled in pencil in the upper left-hand corner: 'Messenia Samari'. It is numbered (No 1) in pencil in the upper right had corner. This drawing was part of the 1936 Exbhitiion at the Royal Academy and was panel 507 in the catalogue
Transverse section with iconography. The drawing is labelled in ink: 'Section Looking East'.It is entitled in pencil in the upper left-hand corner: 'Samari'. It is numbered (No 7) in pencil in the upper right-hand corner. The drawing was exhibited (no 508) in the 1936 Royal Academy exhibition.
West elevation. The drawing is labelled in ink: 'West Elevation'.It is entitled in pencil in the upper left-hand corner: 'Messenia Samari'. It is numbered (No 3) in pencil in the upper right-hand corner.Further annotation in pencil survives.
South elevation. The drawing is labelled in ink: 'South Elevation'.It is entitled in pencil in the upper left-hand corner: 'Messenia Samari'. It is numbered (No 4) in pencil in the upper right-hand corner. This drawing was part of the 1936 Exbhitiion at the Royal Academy and was panel 509 in the catalogue
East elevation. The drawing is labelled in ink: 'East Elevation'.It is entitled in pencil in the upper left-hand corner: 'Samari'. It is numbered (No 5) in pencil in the upper right-hand corner. Further annotation in pencil survives.
North elevation. The drawing is labelled in ink: 'North Elevation'.It is entitled in pencil in the upper left-hand corner: 'Samari'. It is numbered (No 6) in pencil in the upper right-hand corner. Further annotation in pencil survives.
Katholikon - Ground plan with iconography written in Greek. St Luke written in pencil survives at the back.
Dome - The Ascension (detail). The mosaic decoration in the dome is dated to the late 9th c. The drawing forms part of a series: No 3 is inscribed in gold in the lower left-hand corner. It is initialed (W.H.) and dated (1908) also in gold in the lower right-hand corner.
Dome - The Ascension. The mosaic decoration in the dome is dated to the late 9th c. The drawing forms part of a series: No 2 is inscribed in gold in the lower left-hand corner. It is initialed (W.H.) and dated (1908) also in gold in the lower right-hand corner.
Dome - The Ascension. The mosaic decoration in the dome is dated to the late 9th c. This is a rendition of BRF/01/01/07/91. The initials J.F. are inscribed in pencil in the lower right-hand corner. The note: 'Copy of W. Harvey's drawings by Miss Joan Fullylove, Jan-March 1923' survives in pencil at the back.
Dome - The Ascension (detail). The mosaic decoration in the dome is dated to the late 9th c. This is a rendition of BRF/ 01/01/07/98. The initials J.F. are inscribed in pencil in the lower right-hand corner. The note: 'Copy of W. Harvey's drawings by Miss Joan Fullylove, Nov. 1922' survives in pencil at the back.
Dome - The Ascension (detail). The mosaic decoration in the dome is dated to the late 9th c. The drawing forms part of a series: No 4 is inscribed in gold in the lower left-hand corner. It is initialed (W.H.) and dated (1908) also in gold in the lower right-hand corner.
Dome (base) - Part of the mosaic decortaion with the dedicatory inscription. The mosaic decoration in the dome is dated to the late 9th c.
Apse mosaic - Enthroned Virgin with Child. The mosaic replaced an iconoclastic cross probably in the 11th c. The drawing forms part of a series: No 1 is inscribed in gold in the lower left-hand corner. It is initialed (W.H.) and dated (1908) also in gold in the lower right-hand corner.
Dome (base) - Part of the mosaic decortaion with the dedicatory inscription. The mosaic decoration in the dome is dated to the late 9th c. This is a rendition of BRF/01/01/07/99. The note: 'Copied by Joan Fullylove March-April 1923 from the original drawing by W. Harvey' survives in pencil at the back.
Apse mosaic - Enthroned Virgin with Child. The mosaic replaced an iconoclastic cross probably in the 11th c. This is a rendition of BRF/01/01/07/100. The initials J.F. are inscribed in pencil in the lower right-hand corner. The note: 'Copied by Miss Joan Fullylove from the original drawing made by W. Harvey - Nov. 1922' survives in pencil at the back.
Dome - The Ascension (detail). The mosaic decoration in the dome is dated to the late 9th c. This is a rendition of BRF 01/01/07/95. The initials J.F. are inscribed in pencil in the lower right-hand corner. The note: 'Copy of W. Harvey's drawings by Miss Joan Fullylove, Dec. 1922 - Jan. 1923' survives in pencil at the back.
Rubbings with pencil annotations, on english language newspaper [The Daily News, June 25th 1890), of the templon epistyle. There are two rubbings which show two different parts. The first one is the front of the epistyle and it has a motif of interlocking circles with palmettes. The second one is the soffit of the epistyle which most likely belongs to the diakonikon entrance and is decorated with a lozenge and palmette scrolls. The motifs of the rubbings are described on plate 24 of the monograph, Weir Schultz, Robert & Barnsley, Sidney H. 1901. The Monastery of Saint Luke of Stiris, in Phocis, and the dependent monastery of Saint Nicolas in the Fields, near Skripou, in Boeotia, as 'section of lintel to diaconicon' and 'details of screen to diaconicon'
Rubbing with pencil annotations, on part of an english language newspaper, depicting part of the cornice of the exterior of the diakonikon. The cornice is decorated with a so-called floriated pseudo-cufic inscription made in en-champleve technique (χειρομαστιχη). It is described on plate 28 of the monograph, Weir Schultz, Robert & Barnsley, Sidney H. 1901. The Monastery of Saint Luke of Stiris, in Phocis, and the dependent monastery of Saint Nicolas in the Fields, near Skripou, in Boeotia, as 'carved stringcourses round apses of small church'
Rubbing, with pencil annotations, on english language newspaper depicking part of the cornice of the bema apse.The cornice is decorated with a so-called floriated pseudo-cufic inscription made in en-champleve technique (χειρομαστιχη).
Rubbing, with pencil annotations, on english language newspaper depicting part of the cornice of the exterior of the prothesis. The motif is of interlocking circles with half palmettes. It is described on plate 28 of the monograph, Weir Schultz, Robert & Barnsley, Sidney H. 1901. The Monastery of Saint Luke of Stiris, in Phocis, and the dependent monastery of Saint Nicolas in the Fields, near Skripou, in Boeotia, as 'carved stringcourses round apses of small church'