Artwork
A Family of Tartars
A Family of Tartars is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1893 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work depicts three figures in vivid, patterned attire walking beside a donkey that bears a woven basket and a red cloth edged with gold.
About this work
History & Provenance
The work entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is currently held and displayed.
A Family of Tartars is a painting created in 1885 by an unknown artist. The work entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is currently held and displayed. While the specific circumstances of its commission and the details of its ownership prior to arriving in Cleveland are not recorded in the available sources, its inception is firmly dated to 1885.
A Family of Tartars is held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is part of the museum's collection. The work bears the inventory designation 2011.137, indicating its accession into the collection in 2011.
No exhibition history is documented in the available sources.
Overview
The work depicts three figures in vivid, patterned attire walking beside a donkey that bears a woven basket and a red cloth edged with gold. The composition is set against an unadorned background, directing focus to the brightly dressed travelers and the animal’s motion. The scene is rendered in a flat picture plane, emphasizing colour and line over depth.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents a small caravan, likely representing a Tartar group, as suggested by the title. The figures’ gestures, a walking stick, a bag, and reins, convey a journey or trade expedition. Expressions range from surprise to concentration, hinting at the uncertainties and responsibilities inherent in travel across open terrain.
Technique & Style
Bold, saturated hues dominate the canvas, while crisp outlines define the textures of the garments and the donkey’s load. The artist employs flat areas of colour and minimal shading, creating a decorative quality reminiscent of folk art. The sharp linear treatment of the fabrics accentuates their patterned surfaces.
Artist & collection
- A Family of Tartars
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