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Lot Essay
Tangier was a potential flashpoint in European politics in the early years of the century. Historically a French protectorate, Morocco assumed much greater strategic importance when Britain and France, witnessing the phenominal growth of German sea power, signed an entente cordiale in 1904. While Britain had no imperial ambitions in Morocco, it was anxious to protect the Straits of Gibralter and access to India through the Suez Canal. Complex negotiations in Tangier however, led to the founding of a German Legation to monitor the British, and the city, which had been the haunt of artists, colourful European expatriates and Arab brigands, became the home of spies and political intrigue.
Lavery had witnessed some of these changes. Having visitied Tangier in the early 1890s, he returned regularly in the early years of the century and, as is well known, established a house there. Confined to London during the early years of the war and to Naval bases and munitions works as a war artist in its last years (see lot 84), he took an extended winter holiday in 1919, visiting Fez, Marrakesh, Rabat, Casablanca and Tangier. Shortly after his arrival at Tangier in 1920, he witnessed the raising of the Moorish flag over the German Legation, a signal for great ceremony and jollification (sold Christie's, London, 20 May 1999, lot 59). Kaid Maclean's funeral, a fortnight later, was an equally colourful, if more sombre occasion.
General Sir Harry Aubrey De Maclean, K.C.M.G. (1848-1920) was the son of a Scots army doctor who saw service in Canada with his regiment before being consigned to garrison duty at Gibralter in 1873. He resigned in 1876 to take up the post of training officer for the Sultan of Morocco, Mulai Hassan. Within a short time he became a fluent arabic speaker, even though his Scots pronunciation of the language caused considerable amusement. He was quickly promoted to be kaid, given a regiment of 400 infantry attached to the court, and travelled everywhere with the sultan, for whom in 1892, he quelled the Anjera insurrection. When the sultan died two years later, Maclean masterminded the succession to his favourite son, Abd-el-Aliz.
Kaid Maclean accompanied the Moorish mission to the coronation in 1901 and was created K.C.M.G. in part recognition of his diplomatic services as an unofficial agent to the British Legation in Tangier. He also fought a running battle with the local renegade tribes headed by the notorious brigand, Mulai Ahmend-el-Raisuli, who wished to control Tangier. Raisuli took him hostage in 1907 and held him for seven months, his release only being effected by the British chargé d'affairs, Sir Hubert White, in an arrangement which involved British citizenship, and therefore protection for the captor. This effectively ended Maclean's influence and affected his health. The following year, Abd-el-Aziz was deposed and although his successor wanted to retain Maclean, he retired to Richmond, retaining a house in Tangier for winter holidays.
Something of a musician, he played the guitar, the piano and the accordion. Lavery recalled his hospitality to British tourists and confirmed he had 'charmed the sultan by the skirl of his bagpipes'. With The Times correspondent, Walter Harris, he accompanied Maclean on one or two of his missions. Oil sketches of Maclean's camp, and an equestrian portrait of him in Moorish costume are known. He was also painted by Alexander Mann.
The present work, for which a number of related studies exist, reveals Lavery's spontaneity as a composer, managing the crowds grouped amongst the white slab-like architecture, at the same time as incorporating the key element, the funeral car. Clearly, from the evidence of the picture, Maclean continued to be remembered by the Arab inhabitants of Tangier, even in retirement.
Kenneth McConkey
Lavery had witnessed some of these changes. Having visitied Tangier in the early 1890s, he returned regularly in the early years of the century and, as is well known, established a house there. Confined to London during the early years of the war and to Naval bases and munitions works as a war artist in its last years (see lot 84), he took an extended winter holiday in 1919, visiting Fez, Marrakesh, Rabat, Casablanca and Tangier. Shortly after his arrival at Tangier in 1920, he witnessed the raising of the Moorish flag over the German Legation, a signal for great ceremony and jollification (sold Christie's, London, 20 May 1999, lot 59). Kaid Maclean's funeral, a fortnight later, was an equally colourful, if more sombre occasion.
General Sir Harry Aubrey De Maclean, K.C.M.G. (1848-1920) was the son of a Scots army doctor who saw service in Canada with his regiment before being consigned to garrison duty at Gibralter in 1873. He resigned in 1876 to take up the post of training officer for the Sultan of Morocco, Mulai Hassan. Within a short time he became a fluent arabic speaker, even though his Scots pronunciation of the language caused considerable amusement. He was quickly promoted to be kaid, given a regiment of 400 infantry attached to the court, and travelled everywhere with the sultan, for whom in 1892, he quelled the Anjera insurrection. When the sultan died two years later, Maclean masterminded the succession to his favourite son, Abd-el-Aliz.
Kaid Maclean accompanied the Moorish mission to the coronation in 1901 and was created K.C.M.G. in part recognition of his diplomatic services as an unofficial agent to the British Legation in Tangier. He also fought a running battle with the local renegade tribes headed by the notorious brigand, Mulai Ahmend-el-Raisuli, who wished to control Tangier. Raisuli took him hostage in 1907 and held him for seven months, his release only being effected by the British chargé d'affairs, Sir Hubert White, in an arrangement which involved British citizenship, and therefore protection for the captor. This effectively ended Maclean's influence and affected his health. The following year, Abd-el-Aziz was deposed and although his successor wanted to retain Maclean, he retired to Richmond, retaining a house in Tangier for winter holidays.
Something of a musician, he played the guitar, the piano and the accordion. Lavery recalled his hospitality to British tourists and confirmed he had 'charmed the sultan by the skirl of his bagpipes'. With The Times correspondent, Walter Harris, he accompanied Maclean on one or two of his missions. Oil sketches of Maclean's camp, and an equestrian portrait of him in Moorish costume are known. He was also painted by Alexander Mann.
The present work, for which a number of related studies exist, reveals Lavery's spontaneity as a composer, managing the crowds grouped amongst the white slab-like architecture, at the same time as incorporating the key element, the funeral car. Clearly, from the evidence of the picture, Maclean continued to be remembered by the Arab inhabitants of Tangier, even in retirement.
Kenneth McConkey