Lot 186: Narcisse Berchere (French, 1819-1891)

Narcisse Berchere (French, 1819-1891)
Cavaliers Arabes
signed 'Berchere' (lower right)
oil on panel
8 3/8 x 12 in. (21.9 x 31.4 cm.)

Galeries Georges Petit, Paris.

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.
Evident in Narcisse Berchere's memoires published in 1863 is the artist's deep affinity and attachment to the desert. Whether painting in Palestine, Syria or Egypt, Berchere did not focus on depicting Islamic architecture or costumes. Instead he was attracted to desert landscapes, where he enjoyed exploring a life that is particular to this place. Berchere sought to recreate the grandiosity of the desert, occasionally interrupted by a passing caravan, rather than satisfy the public's taste for exoticism. The present lot is a charming example of the artist's work, with its large and confident brushstrokes and clear colours.