Louay Kayyali (Syrian, 1934-1978)

The Tobler family's second acquisition was Malula. The present work is a rare rendition of the Syrian village's iconic landscape, depicted in an unusual white monochromatic palette as most of his other Malula works are painted in blue, grey and ochre hues. The palette here is spectacularly brightened by the chalky-white paint applied in patches, like the plaster on the walls in the village. With the mountain sheltering the village and the striking turquoise sky, the present depiction is undeniably one of the finest portrayals of the Syrian town and one of the greatest landscape paintings by the artist.