Object Description
Pair of antique Orientalist oil paintings by de Hagemann
French, 19th Century
Canvas: Height 44cm, width 29.5cm
Frames: Height 64cm, width 50cm, depth 4.5cm
Crafted by renowned French Orientalist Godefroy de Hagemann (1820-1877), this exquisite duo of oil paintings captivates with two enchanting vignettes.
The initial masterpiece unveils a tranquil figurative courtyard tableau. It features a pair of women, elegantly robed in soft pastels, gazing out at the sea from behind a delicately wrought gate, their eyes tracing the waves to the distant North African cityscape. The courtyard is part of a building of traditional Islamic architecture which rises behind the women, which the artist depicted through quick, larger brushstrokes.
A gathering of other figures lounges on plush carpets by a small pond, in the sheltering shade behind them, their attire subtly echoing the women’s. A centrepiece dish filled with radiant oranges sits amidst them. All the figures feature an impressive amount of detail with the artist making use of smaller, dry brushstrokes, to convey a sense of life and accuracy. The scene is framed by verdant palms and vibrant pink blooms, all under a dominating expanse of brilliant blue skies, whose hues contrast dramatically with the nuanced details below.
The second piece throws us into the heart of a teeming North African street. The street bustles with life, donkeys in striking red saddles leading the scene, one ridden by a woman swathed in purple toward an archaic structure with emerging townsfolk. A grand mosque, boasting a striped red and white facade, anchors the scene in the distance. Here, too, azure skies juxtapose with the street’s vibrant chaos, punctuated by the serene presence of trees.
The paintings are handsomely presented within giltwood frames, the first signed on the bottom left and the second on the right as ‘G. De. Hagemann’. This pair of paintings, with their dynamic and idealised representation of North African scenes possesses a unique allure that marks them as highly desirable. Their inclusion in any interior would provide it with a sense of lightness and life.