Arab Horsemen
Adolf Schreyer

"Although born in Germany, Schreyer spent much of his career in Paris. Like Fromentin, whose A Ravine: Souvenir of Algeria is exhibited nearby, he was one of many artists attracted to the exoticism of Arab subjects. His visit to Algeria in 1861 probably inspired this image of an Arab chieftain, mounted on a dark horse and surrounded by his companions. Schreyer was particularly well-known as a painter of horses, and this work highlights his mastery of equine anatomy. He was also an admirer of Delacroix's rich color, and Schreyer's own sparkling brushwork is evident in his rendering of costume as well as the harnesses and tassels of the horses."

Circular Plaque, ca. 1870
Joseph-Théodore Deck

"This plaque combines designs from Islamic metalwork with the vivid coloring of Islamic ceramics. The artist, Théodore Deck, was an innovator in French ceramics during the mid-1800s (his work can also be seen in Gallery P32). Deck was fascinated with researching and reproducing lost ceramic glaze recipes, especially those found on ceramics made from the 1400s through the 1600s in Isnik (a Turkish town). The peacock blue he reinvented came to be known as Deck blue."