Who painted Women at a Sebil or Street-Fountain?

Women at a Sebil or Street-Fountain was painted by Aloysius Rosarius Amadeus Raymondus Andreas Preziosi in 1845.

Where can I see Women at a Sebil or Street-Fountain?

Women at a Sebil or Street-Fountain is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Women at a Sebil or Street-Fountain?

Women at a Sebil or Street-Fountain is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Women at a Sebil or Street-Fountain

Aloysius Rosarius Amadeus Raymondus Andreas Preziosi , 1845

Women at a Sebil or Street-Fountain is a watercolor work on paper by the Romanticist artist Aloysius Rosarius Amadeus Raymondus Andreas Preziosi. It dates from 1845 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This watercolour depicts a scene of everyday life in 19th-century Constantinople, showing women gathering at a public fountain.

About this work

Overview

This watercolour depicts a scene of everyday life in 19th-century Constantinople, showing women gathering at a public fountain.

Subject & Meaning

The women, dressed in feraces or cloaks, pause to drink from the fountain, one lifting her veil to do so. A black servant holds a small boy, whose fur-edged coat suggests his family is wealthy. The scene conveys the importance of public water sources and the social dynamics of the time.

Technique & Style

The watercolour showcases the artist's attention to detail in clothing and social roles. The figure style and subject matter are consistent with other works from the same period, such as 'Women and a Child' at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

History & Provenance

The painting is dated to around the mid-1840s, based on similarities with other works from the same series of Constantinople characters.

Context

Public fountains were a vital source of water in Constantinople, often built as charitable acts by wealthy individuals. The scene reflects the scarcity and value of water in the warm climate.

Artist & collection

Artist

Aloysius Rosarius Amadeus Raymondus Andreas Preziosi

Amedeo Preziosi (2 December 1816 – 27 September 1882) was a Maltese painter and traveler known for his watercolours and prints of Constantinople, the Balkans, Ottoman Empire, and Romania.

Museum

Victoria and Albert Museum

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