Artwork
Arab Saddling his Horse
Arab Saddling his Horse is an oil painting by the Orientalist artist Eugène Delacroix. It dates from 1855 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows a North African man in a white turban and a short yellow robe, seated on a horse while holding a sword in a scabbard; a second rider in a dark robe appears in the distant background. Delacroix places the rider against a stormy sky of blue and gray clouds, with dark hills behind, and uses the bright yellow garment to heighten the figure's presence. The contrast of light and dark, the inclusion of a saber, and the Orientalist setting combine to portray an exotic, dynamic scene that reflects 19th-century European fascination with the Maghreb.
Technique & Style
The scene features a central figure in a light yellow tunic and white turban against a backdrop of dark green hills and a stormy sky filled with gray clouds.
Executed in 1855, Arab Saddling his Horse is an oil painting on canvas by Eugène Delacroix, measuring 56 by 47 centimeters. The work exemplifies the artist's Orientalist approach through its dynamic composition and dramatic use of color contrast. The scene features a central figure in a light yellow tunic and white turban against a backdrop of dark green hills and a stormy sky filled with gray clouds.
Delacroix employs traditional contrasts to heighten the visual tension, pitting the bright attire of the main subject against the red saddle blanket and the somber silhouette of a distant rider. The artist's signature and date, "Eug. Delacroix 1855," are located in the bottom right corner.
History & Provenance
Arab Saddling his Horse was painted in 1855 by Eugène Delacroix, although the artist's preparatory idea likely dates back to the 1820s. Shortly after its completion the work entered the collection of Count Kushelev-Bezborodko. Following the count's death in 1862 the painting passed to the Musée de l'Académie des Arts, becoming part of the Kushelevskaya gallery; it was listed in the 1868 gallery catalogue as "Turc sellant un cheval" and appeared in the first Delacroix catalogue raisonné of 1885 under its present title.
In 1922 the canvas was transferred to the Hermitage Museum, where it remains on view; since late 2014 it has been displayed in the Palais de l'État-Major, room 308. The sources contain no record of a formal commission, suggesting the picture was produced independently. A Soviet postage stamp reproducing the image was issued in 1972.
Legacy
The 1855 canvas by Eugène Delacroix, known as Arab Saddling his Horse, entered the Hermitage collection and has been exhibited in the Palace of the General Staff, room 308 since 2014. Its classification as an Orientalist work reflects the movement's fascination with North African subjects. The work's title appeared in Delacroix's first scientific catalogue in 1885 and was later featured on a Soviet stamp in 1972, underscoring its lasting public recognition.
Scholars also note a related 1824 aquatint with a similar theme, linking the painting to the artist's evolving fascination with equestrian scenes.
Overview
Eugène Delacroix, a prominent figure in French Romanticism, completed Arab Saddling his Horse in 1855. This oil painting depicts a man preparing his mount and is a notable example of the Orientalist genre. The artwork is currently housed in the State Hermitage Museum.
Delacroix's work is characterized by its vibrant use of color and dynamic compositions, departing from the academic precision favored by earlier traditions.
Context
As a leading exponent of the French Romantic school, Delacroix often sought inspiration from historical events, literature, and exotic locales. This painting reflects the Orientalist trend prevalent in 19th-century European art, which depicted North African and Middle Eastern subjects. Delacroix's artistic vision was shaped by his admiration for the dramatic compositions of Rubens and the luminous palettes of the Venetian Renaissance masters.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Ferdinand Victor Eugène Delacroix ( DEL-ə-krwah, -KRWAH; French:; 26 April 1798 – 13 August 1863) was a French Romantic artist who was regarded as the leader of the French Romantic school.
