19th-Century French School, Portrait Of A Gentleman In A Fez

19th-Century French School, Portrait Of A Gentleman In A Fez

An accomplished late-19th-century portrait of an older North African gentleman wearing a yellow jacket and a red fez. It’s painted with expression and was possibly intended as a study in advance of a larger work.

During the 19th-century, it became popular for artists from the West to travel to North Africa to study its sights, vibrant colours, and scenery. As a result, a new genre was born, which was referred to as ‘Orientalism’. 

The portrait is signed illegibly in the lower right and held within a later frame.

Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 24” x 28½” / 61cm x 73cm
Year of creation: c. 1890
Provenance: England
Condition: Areas of craquelure but the paint layer is stable. Frame with some light age-related wear.

Conservation & History

We care profoundly about our role as custodians and every piece in the collection has been assessed by our conservator. When required, we undertake professional restoration carefully using reversible techniques and adopt a light touch to retain the aged charm of each work. We also often restore frames rather than replace them as many are original and selected by the artists themselves.

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