Lot 55: JEAN DISCART (FRENCH, 1856-1944) The cobbler, Tangiers signed and inscribed 'J.DISCART TANGER' (lowe

JEAN DISCART (FRENCH, 1856-1944) The cobbler, Tangiers signed and inscribed 'J.DISCART TANGER' (lower right) oil on panel 40 x 50cm (15 3/4 x 19 11/16in).

Provenance: Private collection, UK The present lot is a typical example of the Jean Discart's highly detailed Orientalist paintings. Little is known about the life and career of this hugely talented artist. Although he later seems to have taken French nationality, Discart is variously recorded as being born in Modena in Italy, or in Vienna. In 1873, he enrolled at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts, where he studied history painting under the classicist Anselm Feuerbach (German 1829-1880). Discart was a contemporary of Ludwig Deutsch (Austrian 1855-1935), and the two artists later travelled to Paris together where they were no doubt highly influenced by the French enthusiasm for Orientalism. Deutsch was to settle in Paris, as did another Viennese-trained Orientalist, Rudolf Ernst (Austrian 1854-1932). Discart initially returned to Vienna, where he continued his studies under another great Orientalist, Leopold Carl Müller (Austrian 1834-1892). Discart first
Exhibited: at the Paris Salon from 1884, and contributed works to Orientalist exhibitions up until 1920. While Deutsch favoured Cairo as a backdrop for his work, Discart favoured Morocco, frequently inscribing his work 'Tanger'.