Artwork
Tartars at Prayer
Tartars at Prayer is a drawing by the Romanticist artist Auguste Raffet. It dates from 1837 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1923.920
- Credit line
- Gift of René Gimpel
About this work
Overview
Tartars at Prayer is a 1837 drawing by Auguste Raffet, a French illustrator and lithographer. The work is part of The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a group of Tartar men engaged in prayer on rocky terrain under a stormy sky. Their upturned faces and clasped hands convey a sense of reverence and concern.
Technique & Style
Raffet employed chiaroscuro, using strong contrasts of light and shadow to create a dramatic effect. The light highlights the men's clothing and facial expressions, lending a sense of authenticity to the scene.
History & Provenance
Raffet, trained under Nicolas Toussaint Charlet, created the work without having traveled to Central Asia, instead relying on secondary sources and his imagination.
Artist & collection
Artist
Denis Auguste Marie Raffet (2 March 1804 – 16 February 1860) was a French illustrator and lithographer. He was a student of Nicolas Toussaint Charlet, and was a retrospective painter of the Empire.
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