Artwork
Study for the head of a young Arab
Study for the head of a young Arab is an oil painting by Isidore Pils. It dates from 1860 and is held in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum.
About this work
Overview
Isidore Pils produced an oil study in 1860 that portrays a young Arab male from the chest upward. The work is part of the collection at the Fitzwilliam Museum and serves as a preparatory piece for a larger composition.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is shown wearing a loose red head covering and a white shirt, his dark eyes and full lips rendered with particular attention. The focus on his face suggests an interest in character and individuality within the broader orientalist interest of the period.
Technique & Style
Pils employs chiaroscuro to model the features, using contrasts of light and shadow to give the portrait a three‑dimensional presence. The background is a muted brown, allowing the illuminated face and clothing to stand out without distraction.
History & Provenance
Created in 1860, the study entered the Fitzwilliam Museum’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains accessible for scholarly research and public viewing.
Artist & collection
Artist
Isidore Pils (1813–1875) was a French artist, born in former 10th arrondissement of Paris.
Sketch for "Reception of Emperor Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie by the Kabyle Leaders at Algiers on September 18, 1860"
Study of a Reclining Nude
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Horse caparisoned
Study of a Reclining Nude
Militaire a cheval (Soldier on Horseback)
Militaires sous un arbre (Soldiers under a Tree)
