Artwork
Mosque of Sidi Bu Madyan, Tlemcen
Mosque of Sidi Bu Madyan, Tlemcen is a watercolor work on paper by the Impressionist artist S Fabrizi. It dates from 1881 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This watercolour depicts the Mosque of Sidi Bu Madyan in Tlemcen, showcasing the artist Fabrizi's skill in draughtsmanship and colour.
About this work
Overview
This watercolour depicts the Mosque of Sidi Bu Madyan in Tlemcen, showcasing the artist Fabrizi's skill in draughtsmanship and colour.
Subject & Meaning
The painting captures a moment of personal supplication after formal prayers, with worshippers holding out their hands to receive Allah's blessing. The mosque, built in 1339, adjoins the shrine of the 12th-century holy man Sidi Bu Madyan.
Technique & Style
Fabrizi's style is reminiscent of Italian Orientalist artists active in Rome during the 1870s and 1880s, such as Enrico Tarengi, Gustavo Simoni, and Filippo Bartolini, who often based their North African scenes on photographs.
Context
The mosque features richly carved stucco decoration, simple horseshoe arches, a tiled mihrab, and a wooden minbar, all rendered in detail by Fabrizi.
Artist & collection
