Artwork
woman slave
woman slave is an oil painting by the Orientalist artist Antonio Fabrés. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
Antonio Fabrés’s Woman Slave (1894) is an oil on canvas executed within the Orientalist tradition. The work is held in the Museo del Prado’s collection, representing the artist’s interest in exotic and historical subjects.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a barefoot woman in a white dress, her head and shoulders covered by a red‑and‑blue striped shawl. She stands on a stone platform beneath an Arabic inscription, her mouth open in a gesture of distress that suggests a narrative of captivity or pleading.
Technique & Style
Fabrés employs strong chiaroscuro, allowing the figure to emerge from surrounding darkness. Careful modeling of folds in the garment and the textured stone surface demonstrate his meticulous handling of light and material.
History & Provenance
Born in Catalonia in 1854, Fabrés worked as both sculptor and painter until his death in 1938, producing numerous Orientalist and historical scenes. Woman Slave entered the Prado’s holdings as part of its 20th‑century acquisitions of Spanish academic art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Antoni Maria Fabrés i Costa (Spanish: Antonio Maria Fabrés y Costa; 1854–1938), also known as Antoni Fabrés, was a Catalan sculptor and painter known especially for his depictions of Orientalist and period subjects.
