The Nubian hunter

Trained in Paris under Paul Delaroche and Horace Vernet, Strutt made the acquaintance in 1878 of a party of Nubian (Upper Egyptian) hunters who were visiting London with the Munich wild-animal dealer, Hagenbeck. By his own account, they brought with them 'everything that could possibly illustrate in the most complete manner the habits...and toilettes of the most interesting people'. He went on to remark: 'Mixing with the swarthy Nubians and their animals, I could almost fancy myself at Kardofan or Khartoum' (quoted in exhib. cat., Orientalism, The Art Gallery of New South Wales, Dec. 1997 - Feb. 1998, p. 98). The present work is based on the studies Strutt made while visiting the Nubian animal keepers at the Alexandra Park grounds.