Charles-Théodore Frère (French, 1814-1888)

Charles-Théodore Frère (French, 1814-1888)

Feluccas Beached Along the Nile
Signed "TH. FRÈRE" l.r., dedicated "à Madame J Bouland/Th. Frère a...Mai 188..." in pencil on the reverse.
Watercolor on paper, sheet size 3 1/2 x 5 1/4 in. (9.0 x 14.0 cm), in a Middle Eastern-style inlaid frame.
Condition: Very pale fox mark to sky, sheet affixed to window mat with paper tape that partially obscures the date on the reverse.

N.B. Charles-Théodore Frère was one of the first generation of artists who committed themselves to Orientalist themes, immersing himself in this study throughout his lifetime. He became intrigued by Middle Eastern cultures and journeyed to Algeria in the late 1830s and through Egypt, Greece, Turkey, and Syria in the early to mid-1850s. He spent several years in Egypt, traveling the Nile numerous times, and eventually established a studio in Cairo. He began to exhibit only Orientalist themes at the Salon, including landscapes, cityscapes, and interiors, continuing to do so for the next three decades.
Estimate $500-700

Frame dimensions: 14 1/4 x 19 1/2 x 1 3/4 in.

Work is not laid down. It is adhered to the window mat with paper tape around the perimeter of the reverse. Minor mat burn to the front. There is some minor toning to the front which is less noticeable on those edges that are covered with tape on the reverse. There are ripples along the top and right edges when viewed from the front, which seem to be caused by the tape on the back. The ripple along the top is raised enough to cast a slight shadow when the work is lit from above. Reverse with glue stain and residue along top edge and minor foxing.

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