Object Description
Orientalist oil portrait of a pair of siblings by Burgess
English, 19th Century
Canvas: Height 72cm, width 51cm
Frame: Height 85cm, width 64cm, depth 5cm
This superb Orientalist painting is by the English artist John Bagnold Burgess RA (1829 – 1897), who was renowned for his historical and genre scenes.
The painting is set in the Arab world, possibly Morocco. The two figures, a boy and a girl, appear to be siblings, given the similarity of their features. The girl wraps her arms around her brother’s shoulders, as both children look with concern at a point beyond the canvas. Burgess effectively conveys a sense of unrest within this scene, making this painting a highly unusual subject for works of this type.
The figures are dressed in shining robes and headdresses, which are rendered with remarkable accuracy. The surrounding interior contains numerous features that point to the Arab setting, including geometric tiling, the scrolled and fluted pillar, and the palm plant.
The painting is signed in the lower right ‘J. B. Burgess’. The carved giltwood frame is also inscribed.
Capturing an evocative atmosphere, this truly spectacular painting is an undoubtable collector’s item.
Two similar paintings by the same artist sold at Sotheby’s sale titled Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own.