Orientalist oil painting of a market scene by Bernard

Orientalist oil painting of a market scene by Bernard
Continental, Late 19th Century
Panel: Height 53cm, width 41cm, depth 0.5cm
Frame: Height 70cm, width 58cm, depth 6cm
 
This oil on panel by L. Bernard from the late 19th century depicts an Orientalist market scene.
 
A large portion of the composition is occupied by groups of people, both buyers and sellers. A woman is seen carrying a basket full of tomatoes on her head, while another dressed in a vibrant blue garment is carrying a vessel, too resting on her head. A male figure is riding a camel, looking down on the group gathered in front of him. Dressed in a muted colour palette with shades of yellows and oranges predominating, the artist portrayed a man leaning forward spilling water onto the ground. A woman, with two younger boys, possibly her children is crouching behind a large woven basket filled with spools of thread.
 
L. Bernard painted the background full of brick constructions covered by hay, fabric, and wood to portray the look of market stalls, behind which a domed roof of a temple appears.
 
The superb attention to detail demonstrated by Bernard makes this artwork an exceptionally fine Orientalist painting. 
 
The painting is signed to the lower right ‘L. Bernard’. It is framed in a giltwood frame and on the bottom panel is attached a label with the artist’s name.
 
Artist/ Maker: L. Bernard