Items Similar to Egyptian Street Scene – Fellahs, Soldiers, and Snake Charmers, c.1845
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 9
Egyptian Street Scene – Fellahs, Soldiers, and Snake Charmers, c.1845
$288.46
£213.67
€240
CA$394.60
A$430.09
CHF 227.39
MX$5,177.49
NOK 2,886.09
SEK 2,645.95
DKK 1,828.67
About the Item
Title: Egyptian Street Scene – Fellahs, Soldiers, and Snake Charmers, c.1845
Description:
This remarkable hand-colored lithograph, titled “Afrique – Égypte,” comes from Le Monde en Estampes: Types et Costumes des Principaux Peuples de l’Univers, published in Paris around 1845–1850 by Amédée Bedelet. Drawn by Fossey, lithographed by J. Bocquin, and printed by Lemercier, this series is one of the finest 19th-century visual surveys of world costume and culture, distinguished by its artistic finesse and ethnographic interest.
The composition presents a vibrant street scene in Cairo, filled with the movement and color of daily life along the Nile. In the foreground, a Charmeur de serpents (snake charmer) holds two serpents before a small audience, while a seated musician accompanies him on a lute-like instrument, setting the rhythm for the performance. To their right stand a fellah and his wife—Egyptian peasants whose simple robes and head coverings reflect the traditional attire of the rural classes. Their presence contrasts with the more elaborate dress of the urban characters nearby.
At the center, a soldat d’infanterie égyptienne (Egyptian infantry soldier) in a blue uniform and red fez converses with a fellah wrapped in a striped mantle, while behind them, a femme du Caire (Cairene woman) passes by, veiled in black. To the left, an ânier (donkey driver) leads his animal through the narrow street, the scene framed by the distinctive domes, arches, and mashrabiya balconies of Islamic architecture.
This plate captures both the everyday life and exotic charm that fascinated 19th-century European audiences. It reflects the Romantic imagination of Egypt as a crossroads of ancient civilization and Oriental splendor—a place of mystery, color, and timeless tradition. The fine detail of Fossey’s drawing and the subtle hand-coloring enhance the sense of authenticity, with warm ochres, reds, and blues harmoniously balanced. Lemercier’s printing brings a delicate precision to the architectural and costume details, characteristic of his celebrated Parisian atelier.
As part of Le Monde en Estampes, this plate represents the artistic peak of ethnographic lithography—a perfect blend of observation and imagination.
Condition report: Very good condition with light foxing and mild toning mainly in the margins. Strong, clean impression and bright original hand-coloring. Wide margins preserved.
Framing tips: Display elegantly with a cream or soft beige mat and a gilt or dark wood frame. A deep olive or warm brown inner mat can enhance the earthy tones of the Egyptian architecture and costumes.
Technique: Hand-colored lithograph
Maker: J. Bocquin after Fossey, printed by Lemercier, Paris, circa 1845
- Dimensions:Height: 9.06 in (23 cm)Width: 11.82 in (30 cm)Depth: 0.01 in (0.2 mm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1845
- Condition:Condition report: Very good condition with light foxing and mild toning mainly in the margins. Strong, clean impression and bright original hand-coloring. Wide margins preserved.
- Seller Location:Langweer, NL
- Reference Number:Seller: BG-13682-171stDibs: LU3054347441222
About the Seller
5.0
Recognized Seller
These prestigious sellers are industry leaders and represent the highest echelon for item quality and design.
Platinum Seller
Premium sellers with a 4.7+ rating and 24-hour response times
Established in 2009
1stDibs seller since 2017
2,811 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Langweer, Netherlands
- Return Policy
More From This Seller
View AllAlgerian Street Scene – Moors, Kabyles, and a Moorish Woman with Child, c.1845
Located in Langweer, NL
Algerian Street Scene – Moors, Kabyles, and a Moorish Woman with Child, c.1845
This beautifully hand-colored lithograph, titled “Afrique – Algérie,” is taken from Le Monde en Estamp...
Category
Antique 1840s French Prints
Materials
Paper
Antique Egyptian Infantry Guard Scene from Maximilian in Bavaria, 1846
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique Egyptian Infantry Guard Scene from Maximilian in Bavaria, 1846
This refined and historically rich 19th-century Orientalist engraving depicts an Egyptian infantry detachment ...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Prints
Materials
Paper
Egyptians – Antique Hand-Colored Ethnographic Engraving (c.1810)
Located in Langweer, NL
Egyptians – Antique Hand-Colored Ethnographic Engraving (c.1810)
Original early 19th-century hand-colored copperplate engraving depicting two Egypti...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Dutch Prints
Materials
Paper
Persian and Armenian Figures – Asia Minor and Khorasan Costumes, c.1845
Located in Langweer, NL
Persian and Armenian Figures – Asia Minor and Khorasan Costumes, c.1845
This magnificent hand-colored lithograph, titled “Asie – Turquie d’Asie,” is drawn from the renowned Parisian...
Category
Antique 1840s French Prints
Materials
Paper
Antique Egyptian Regular Cavalry on the Nile from Maximilian in Bavaria, 1846
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique Egyptian Regular Cavalry on the Nile from Maximilian in Bavaria, 1846
Description:
This impressive 19th-century Orientalist engraving depicts...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Prints
Materials
Paper
Antique Print of a Snake Charmer and Musicians by Wageman, 1812
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'Dancing Snake and Musicians'. This print originates from an edition of 'Oriental Memoirs', a work in the form of a series of letters richly illustrated, describ...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Prints
Materials
Paper
You May Also Like
Egyptians Along the Nile - Chromolithograph after Karl Werner - 1881
Located in Roma, IT
Egyptian on camel is a modern artwork realized d'apres Karl Werner.
Mixed colored cromolithograph.
The artwork is after the watercolors realized by the artist during a trip to Egy...
Category
1880s Modern Figurative Prints
Materials
Lithograph
French Victorian Algerian Scene Lithograph
Located in Queens, NY
French Victorian birch framed colored lithograph of Algerian scene
Category
Antique 19th Century French Moorish Paintings
Materials
Birch
Soldats de l’Armée Ottomane - Lithograph by Auguste Raffet - 1830s
Located in Roma, IT
Lithograph on wove paper, realized between 1837 and 1845.
Signed in the plate.
Image dimension 24x20 cm.
Light to moderate foxing scattered throughout, especially around the margi...
Category
1830s Modern Figurative Prints
Materials
Lithograph
Arab Smokers - Original Lithograph - 1849
Located in Roma, IT
Arab Smokers is an original hand-watercolored lithograph on ivory paper by Anonymous Artist in 1849.
In excellent conditions: As good as new.
Not signed. Titled on the lower cente...
Category
1840s Modern Figurative Prints
Materials
Paper, Lithograph
Egyptian Barber - Chromolithograph after Karl Werner - 1881
Located in Roma, IT
Egyptian barber is a modern artwork realized d'apres Karl Werner
Mixed colored Chromolithograph.
The artwork is after the watercolor realized by the artist during a trip to Egypt...
Category
1880s Modern Figurative Prints
Materials
Lithograph
Oriental Scene - Chromolithograph after Karl Werner - 1881
Located in Roma, IT
Oriental scene is a modern artwork realized d'apres Karl Werner
Mixed colored Chromolithograph.
The artwork is after the watercolor realized by the artist during a trip to Egypt ...
Category
1880s Modern Figurative Prints
Materials
Lithograph
