Frederick Arthur Bridgman

Mathaf Gallery Ltd., London
Purchased from the above by the present owner in 1986

The canvas has been lined. There are some isolated, fine lines of hairline craquelure in the lower half of the composition, which are only visible upon close inspection. Inspection under ultra-violet light reveals some scattered retouching, including: - strokes along the left framing edge and in the lower left corner; - an area across the horse's legs in the lower left quadrant, possibly addressing an old repair; - a small spot in the background in the upper left quadrant, possibly addressing old flaking; - clusters of pinhead sized spots of cosmetic retouching in the background, notably in the upper left quadrant, addressing possible thinness to the paint; and - some other scattered, isolated, small spots. It should be noted the above retouchings are not easily visible to the naked eye and the main composition, with a few small exceptions, is mostly untouched. This work is overall in good condition and ready to hang. Presented in a simple gilt frame.
"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."

Painted in 1881, this scene of domestic life is set in a typical north African house with mud walls, illuminated by a sky light in the flat roof. Bridgman first visited Biskra, an oasis-city in northern Algeria, in 1879. The composition relates to a similar work, Café at Biskra, Algeria, dated 1884, in the Smithsonian American Art Museum collection. Born in Alabama, Bridgman arrived in Paris from America in 1866, and entered the studio of Jean-Léon Gérôme at the École des Beaux-Arts the following year. Under Gérôme’s tutelage, he became increasingly interested in Orientalist subjects. However, it was his own travels to Algeria and Egypt from 1872 onwards that lent his paintings their unique character and high degree of verisimilitude.