This artwork shows Abbas ibn Firnas at the edge of a cliff above Cordoba, wings attached, about to attempt something no one in the known world had tried before.
In 875 CE, Abbas ibn Firnas constructed a gliding apparatus from wood, silk, and feathers, climbed a hill outside Cordoba, and launched himself into the air. He flew. Contemporary accounts record that he remained airborne for some time before landing badly, injuring his back. He had not, he noted afterwards, accounted for the tail. He was in his seventies.
He was also a poet, a musician, an astronomer, and an engineer who built a mechanical planetarium in his home. The flight is the story most people don't know. Ibn Firnas is the one who tried it nine hundred years before the Wright Brothers.
Every artwork in the Riwayah collection is available in four premium display formats, crafted to suit every home and interior style. Our canvas prints offer a rich, textured finish that brings depth and character to each piece, stretched on FSC-certified wooden bars for a refined gallery feel. For a minimalist and versatile look, our magnetic hangers use durable pine wood to hold your print securely without marking it, making it easy to change artwork whenever you like. Those seeking a classic, museum-style presentation can choose our premium wooden frames, crafted from responsibly sourced oak or ash with visible natural grain and protected with shatterproof plexiglass. And for a sleek, contemporary finish, our aluminium frames pair clean black metal with heavyweight matte paper for a polished, modern aesthetic. All prints use FSC-certified paper and high-quality inks, arrive ready to hang or assemble, and are produced on demand in the UK to reduce waste and ensure the highest standard of craftsmanship.
