Lot Essay
A variant of this picture is reproduced in F. A. Bridgman Winters in Algeria, New York, 1890, p. 85.
Bridgman exhibited other paintings with similar titles which may be studies and variants.
To be included in Ilene Susan Fort's forthcoming catalogue raisonné on Bridgman who, in a letter dated 30 Aug 1994, states 'Fête of the Prophet at Oued-el-Kebir is a magnificent work ... and ... was one of Bridgman's major exhibition paintings shown at the height of his career'.
We are grateful to Ilene Susan Fort, Curator, American Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art for her help in preparing this catalogue entry.
'Bridgman was born in Alabama, America. He won a travel scholarship to Paris, and studied under Jean-Léon Gérôme, spending time at the American colony at Pont-Aven. During the 1870s and 80s he travelled several times to Egypt and Algeria. A keen photographer, he worked from photographic prints as well as his sketches from one or two studios in Paris. One studio was decorated in the ancient Egyptian style, the other with palm trees, textiles, moucharabies, Islamic tiles and narghiles, creating a Thousand and One Nights atmosphere, in which he adored dressing himself up in Oriental Costume.' L. Thornton (op. cit.) p. 172.
See also introductory note to this catalogue by L. Thornton.
Bridgman exhibited other paintings with similar titles which may be studies and variants.
To be included in Ilene Susan Fort's forthcoming catalogue raisonné on Bridgman who, in a letter dated 30 Aug 1994, states 'Fête of the Prophet at Oued-el-Kebir is a magnificent work ... and ... was one of Bridgman's major exhibition paintings shown at the height of his career'.
We are grateful to Ilene Susan Fort, Curator, American Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art for her help in preparing this catalogue entry.
'Bridgman was born in Alabama, America. He won a travel scholarship to Paris, and studied under Jean-Léon Gérôme, spending time at the American colony at Pont-Aven. During the 1870s and 80s he travelled several times to Egypt and Algeria. A keen photographer, he worked from photographic prints as well as his sketches from one or two studios in Paris. One studio was decorated in the ancient Egyptian style, the other with palm trees, textiles, moucharabies, Islamic tiles and narghiles, creating a Thousand and One Nights atmosphere, in which he adored dressing himself up in Oriental Costume.' L. Thornton (op. cit.) p. 172.
See also introductory note to this catalogue by L. Thornton.