Frederick Arthur Bridgman (American, 1847-1928)

Frederick Arthur Bridgman had built his artistic knowledge in America as an engraver to the American Banknote Company, and through evening classes at the Brooklyn Art Association. He left to study in Paris in 1866, where he worked in Jean Léon Gérôme's studio at the École des Beaux-Arts. In 1872 he made his first expedition to Algeria. It was during this period of travel that his palette become much lighter, as can be seen in the costume of the figures in the present work. Whilst he would detail topography and townscapes, it was intimate scenes such as this one which would become his most perfected compositions.
In the present scene musicians play a lute and a doombeg. Musical instruments often appeared in Bridgman’s courtyard or interior scenes, but the focus on the music making in this tight composition would have resonated with Bridgman who had a superb musical talent. As Gerald Akerman noted, 'Bridgman...often took a violin with him on trips; in fact, in 1874, he and his travelling buddy had played violin duos by Spohr and Viottito to entertain French officers in Biskra' (G. Ackerman, American Orientalists, Paris, 1994, p.32).