EUGÈNE FROMENTIN | The Chess game

oil on canvas ; signed lower right Eug. Fromentin

Galerie Brame & Lorenceau, Paris ;
Galerie Gaubert, Paris

James Thompson and Barbara Wright, Eugène Fromentin, 1820-1876: visions d'Algérie et d'Egypte, Paris, 2008, p. 165, illustrated

- painting was relined A few thin restorations and tears along the frame a small restoration shaped as a cross in the background Two long and thin vertical restorations, one from the beard of the figure seated on the left, going down over his foot; the second one from the sleeve of the man seated in the center, going down to the green pants of the man seated on the left. A third small and thin vertical restoration in the sleeve of the man seated in the center. overall good condition.
"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."

Fromentin traveled three times to Algeria (in 1846, 1847-48 and 1852-53). These trips deeply influenced Fromentin. The painting presented here is characteristic of the style of his orientalist works painted in the 1850s, when he painted a certain number of interior scenes. In the present painting, Fromentin worked thoroughly on the three players, placed at the center of the composition, with their gazes focused on the checkerboard. The artist also depicted the details of the architecture with minute care, such as the tiles above the columns.