Orientalist Egyptian Figurative Pastel Painting
Our figurative pastel on paper in the Orientalist style depicts a man seated with child with onlooker in the background. Apparently unsigned with hieroglyphics in lower left which may be a pseudo-signature of the artist. It resides in an elegant nineteenth century in the Hispano-Moresque style finely carved and decorated with Arabic calligraphy. Believed to be a later match, the painting does not quite fit the frame, but certainly could be remounted with proper matting to look appropriate. Frame measures 41 by 53 inches.
Writing on old kraft paper on rear refers to the al Kasar Mosque (Old Cairo). In fact this may intend to refer to the Al-Azhar mosque in Cairo, or possibly a mosque outside Cairo such as the Al-Qasr (or Ksar, or El-Kssar in French) mosque in Tunis or even the Al-Khulafa Mosque in Baghdad Iraq which is sometimes referred to as the Al-Qasr mosque.
Other markings on the paper in the upper left may indicate the artist's name.
