CONSTANTINOPLE

IN 1851, FLUSHED WITH THE SUCCESS WHICH A DECADE OF CONCENTRATING ON NORTH AFRICAN SUBJECTS INSPIRED BY HIS TWO VISITS TO ALGERIA HAD BROUGHT HIM, FRèRE DECIDED UPON VENTURING OUTSIDE THE MAGHREB AND JOURNEYED TO CONSTANTINOPLE, VIA MALTA, GREECE AND SMYRNA. HE STAYED IN THE REGION FOR EIGHTEEN MONTHS DURING WHICH TIME HE EXECUTED THE PRESENT PAINTING.

ASIDE FROM THE ACCLAIM WHICH FRèRE'S ATMOSPHERIC APPROACH BROUGHT FROM HABITUéS OF THE SALON, IT ALSO EARNED HIM THE RESPECT OF FELLOW ARTISTS. WRITING TO EUGèNE BOUDIN ON 3 JUNE 1859, CLAUDE MONET REMARKED UPON THE BEAUTY OF AN ORIENTALIST PAINTING BY FRèRE WHICH HE HAD JUST SEEN AT THE PARIS EXHIBITION, COMMENTING PARTICULARLY ON HOW IT POSSESSED 'LA GRANDEUR D'UNE LUMIERE CHAUDE'.