Alberto Pasini, "orientalist View," Watercolor On Paper, 19th Century Era

Alberto Pasini, "Orientalist View," watercolor on paper, 19th century era

Alberto Pasini (Busseto, 1826 - Cavoretto, 1899)

Orientalist View

Watercolor on paper applied to cardboard, mounted on board

Measures: Framed H 51 x W 58 / 31 x 36.5 cm

Signed lower left

Provenance:

Cristallo Art Gallery, Branduardi, Rapallo

Buzzi Collection, Milan

This refined Orientalist watercolor by Alberto Pasini, one of the greatest interpreters of 19th-century Italian exoticism, depicts a lively urban scene in a Middle Eastern market.

The highly polished composition highlights the artist's interest in warm light and meticulous rendering of architectural details, costumes and local atmospheres. On the left, we see buildings with facades adorned with mashrabiya (typical Arab wooden balconies), while an elegant minaret stands out in the background, accentuating the perspective depth. In the foreground, the swarming of figures -- merchants, camel drivers, passers-by -- renders a living, breathing image of the city.

The work fully reflects the painting style of Pasini, known for his ability to combine graphic precision with a romantic and adventurous vision of the Orient. This museum-quality work is an excellent example of Orientalist painting, but also a valuable document of nineteenth-century European taste and visual culture.