Carle Vernet

Sale: Eric Pillon, Calais, 4 July 2004, lot 24

Original canvas. There are scattered spots of retouching visible under ultraviolet light, notably along the upper right and upper left extreme edges and to the centre of the sky. Apart from scattered craquelure and abrasion along the left and right extreme edges, this work is in very good condition, with rich colours and fine detail. Held in a decorative, gold-painted moulded plaster and wood frame with a name plate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

In this superb example of Vernet's ability to depict warriors and their horses, a Mameluk soldier leads his Arabian steed before a Cairene citadel. These cavalrymen of slave origin became a powerful military caste between the ninth and nineteenth centuries, admired for their skill and bravery.

Napoleon defeated the Mameluk army during his 1798 invasion of Egypt, but was impressed by their valour in battle. Following this Napoleon created a special Mameluk corps in the French army, and was given a famous Mameluk bodyguard named Roustam Raza by the sheikh of Cairo. In the present work, the Mameluk is armed with a scimitar, rifle and brace of pistols, and wears the uniform of the Napoleonic squadron before 1804: the green cahouk (hat) wrapped with a white turban, red sarousal (trousers), loose white shirt and waistcoat.