Object Description
Antique Orientalist equestrian oil painting by Wordsworth Thompson
American, 1896
Canvas: Height 30cm, width 46cm
Frame: Height 42cm, 57cm, depth 2.5cm
This refined Orientalist artwork is by the American painter Alfred Wordsworth Thompson (1840-1896). Likely inspired by his extensive travels to North Africa and the Middle East, this sensitive rendering is a fine example of his rural scenes.
The work depicts a lone Arab rider crossing a grassy desert plain. The figure is dressed in a red and white turban and robe, and holds a rifle in his right hand. His horse is a fine breed, with a rich glossy coat and ornamental green harness. The horse and rider are depicted alone in their travels, with glimpses of a North African coastal town in the background. Their isolation gives a sense of peaceful solitude to the scene.
The painting is rendered in a gestural style, with the visible brushstrokes conveying the arid atmosphere of the surroundings. The pale blue sky takes up the entire upper half of the composition, adding to the sense of humidity.
Ensconced in a giltwood frame, the painting is signed and dated ‘Wordsworth Thompson (18)96’ to the lower right.
With horses a highly desirable subject for Orientalist collectors, this elegant work would suit both modern and traditional interiors.