Brother Theodore (1814-1888) “the Arrival Of The Caravan” Syria Lebanon Egypt Orientalist Paris

FRÈRE Théodore (1814-1888)

"The arrival of the caravan"

Oil on panel,
Signed lower right,

Beautiful, finely crafted work by the orientalist painter Théodore Frère which represents the arrival of the caravan at the fountain, most likely in the Middle East, in Syria, in Lebanon where the artist used to paint his scenes.
The brushstroke is precise and the play of light brings the composition to life.
The vegetation of the trees and the leaves of the palm trees are meticulously done. Just like the camels and figures, which are also perfectly executed.

A student of the portraitist Jules Cogniet, then of the landscaper Camille Roqueplan at the École des Beaux-Arts, Théodore Frère exhibited at the Paris Salon from 1834. After presenting his orientalist paintings, he undertook a long journey that took him to Malta, Greece and the Middle East.
He settled in Algiers in 1836, then in Constantine from 1837 to 1839, where he prolifically painted architecture, views of bazaars, mosques, Moorish cafes, caravans in the desert and orientalist landscapes. He is one of the few French artists to have painted Jerusalem, Beirut, Palmyra and Damascus.
From 1839 (two "Views of Algiers") to 1850, he exhibited regularly at the Salon. These numerous works, often dazzling with light, are all testimonies of his years spent in Algeria: "View of the Sidi Abd-Er-Raham Mosque", "View of the Bab-Azoun Suburb", "Gardens inside the Casbah of Algiers", "Plain of Mitidja".
In 1853, he set up a studio in Cairo and became a court painter. The Viceroy of Egypt then raised him to the rank of Bey. The artist was then promoted to officer of the Order of the Medjidié of the Ottoman Empire. In 1869, Frère accompanied Empress Eugénie to the inauguration of the Suez Canal with other orientalist painters such as Narcisse Berchère, Jean-Léon Gérôme, Eugène Fromentin and Tournemine.

He participated in the Universal Exhibitions of 1855, 1867 and 1878 and the State purchased a work from him "Les Monts Felfela" (Constantine). He continued to send works to the Salon until 1887. Many were painted on small wooden panels and reveal, as Théophile Gautier wrote, Frère's long familiarity with these countries "of gold, silver and azure".

His works are now preserved in many museums in France in Paris: Musée de Bagnères-de-Bigorre, Musée Magnin in Dijon, Musée de Grasse, Musée de Narbonne, Musée de la Marine in Paris .... but also abroad: Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, Walter Art Museum in Baltimore, Museum of Fine Art in Boston or even at the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg.

Dimensions: 16 x 20.5 cm without frame and 30 x 35.5 cm with its original gilded wooden frame.

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