Seated Arab Man with Horse
While his horse rests nearby, an Arab man sits before the walls of a city, relaxed yet alert. Although he is unnamed, his pronounced dignity may be an allusion to the Algerian military and religious leader ‘Abd al-Qadir (1808–1883). A foe of the French following their invasion of his country in 1830, the statesman eventually earned his adversaries’ respect for his courage, wisdom, and judgement. This man bears a general physical resemblance to ‘Abd al-Qadir, whose likeness was widely disseminated through paintings, prints, and photographs. Dedreux, a popular painter of equestrian subjects, made at least two portraits of horses belonging to him in the 1850s.
Artwork Details
- Title: Seated Arab Man with Horse
- Artist: Alfred Dedreux (French, Paris 1810–1860 Paris)
- Date: possibly ca. 1850–58
- Medium: Oil on canvas
- Dimensions: 25 1/2 x 21 1/4 in. (64.8 x 54 cm)
- Classification: Paintings
- Credit Line: Gift of Kenneth Jay Lane, 2017
- Object Number: 2017.202.8
- Curatorial Department: European Paintings
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