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Lot 39
Jean Raymond Hippolyte Lazerges(French, 1817-1887)The Tomb of Sidi Abderrahmane Al-Thaalibi
Amended
20 October 2021, 15:00 BST
London, New Bond StreetSold for £10,200 inc. premium
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Jean Raymond Hippolyte Lazerges (French, 1817-1887)
The Tomb of Sidi Abderrahmane Al-Thaalibi
signed and inscribed 'Hipt Lazerges Algiers 1878' (lower left)
oil on canvas
33 x 49cm (13 x 19 5/16in).
signed and inscribed 'Hipt Lazerges Algiers 1878' (lower left)
oil on canvas
33 x 49cm (13 x 19 5/16in).
Footnotes
Born 1817 in Narbonne, there is little known about the early life of the artist. By 1841 he was a regular exhibitor at the Paris Salon and was awarded the Legion d'honneur in 1867.
Lazerges first visited Algeria in 1830 but settled permanently in the country in 1861. He was an author as well as a painter and musician, and celebrated North African culture through his work which found a willing market back home in France. He drew his inspiration from the everyday subjects that he witnessed in the city and surrounding countryside – real people engaged in everyday events, as opposed to the idealised vision of the East as espoused by Ingres and his followers.
The present lot depicts the interior of the shrine of the saint Sidi Abderraham at-Thaalibi, the Muslim theologian who became the patron saint of the city of Algiers. A prolific author, he founded the Thaalibiya school where education in history, literature, Sufism and doctrine was provided. His shrine became a place of pilgrimage as can be seen by the three women wearing the haik who are shown here praying next to the tomb.
According to Cook's Practical Guide to Algiers, Algeiria, and Tunisia 1904, 'with the exception of the Djama el Kebir ... this is the oldest religious building in Algiers ... The marabout Abd er Rahman et Thalibi was born in 1387 and died in 1471. The mosque was built between these dates and contains his tomb, over which are hung silk banners, ostrich eggs, etc and on which lights are kept burning'. This can be seen in the present work, which shows the extraordinary number of lanterns and chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and the profusion of textiles and rugs.
It is unlikely that Lazerges would have been able to work on this composition in situ, which would explain why the interior would appear larger than it actually is, but the overall image is treated with careful attention to detail and with an empathy that would suggest the work of an artist fully engaged with his subject and at ease in his surroundings.
Saleroom notices
Please note that this work is on card, laid down on canvas.