Charles Theodore Frère (French, 1814-1888)

After the conquest of Algeria by Charles X in 1830, Algeria gained national attention, not only for its French military training base and warm climate, but also for its intriguing culture. Among the artists who flocked there was Charles Theodore Frère. He travelled extensively throughout Egypt, Turkey, Greece and Syria, accumulating a great supply of images and themes for his work. A major exponent of Orientalism, Frere concentrated on depicting the daily life, architecture and landscapes of the places he visited. His works were very successful as interest in orientalist pictures increased, which allowed him to exhibit often at the Salon.
Works by the artist hang in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and in the Boston Fine Arts Museum, among others.