Nicola Forcella

(Castellaneta, 1850)

Portrait of a young berber. Oil on canvas, 70x49 cm. Signed lower right "N. Forcella". A painter of Apulian origin, Forcella is one of the best orientalists of his generation, soon becoming Professor of Ornate Design in the School of Fine Arts in Cairo. The painter used to frequent the local bourgeoisie by taking an interest in his costumes. He preferred to portray young girls, elegantly dressed or covered with light veils, all smiling, refined and worthy, on the opposite side of the provocative dancers and of the lascivious odalisques so frequently represented in Orientalist paintings.

cm 70x49