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Orientalist oil painting depicting the trade of a horse by Pilny

Creator: Otto Pilny
Offered by: Mayfair Gallery

Description
Orientalist oil painting depicting the trade of a horse by Pilny
Swiss, 1913
Canvas: Height 80cm, width 121cm
Frame: Height 102cm, width 142cm, depth 6cm

This beautiful Orientalist painting depicts a trade negotiation within the desert. In the foreground, two Arab men discuss the sale of an elegant white horse. With its saddle removed for better viewing, the horse is likely the highly distinctive Arabian breed: dating back to the 3rd century BCE, the Arabian horse is notable for its high tail carriage and unique head shape.

Pilny effectively conveys the heated dynamics of negotiation: the seller gestures to the horse with his right hand and leans towards the buyer in a persuasive stance, whilst the seated figure gazes intently at the horse. The buyer sits atop a richly patterned rug, with a hookah pipe in hand. In the background, further tradesmen can be seen in seated discussion, with two grazing camels behind them. All of the figures are dressed in flowing robes, rendered in a palette of cream, red, and blue.

Pilny’s use of light and brushwork is particularly effective: the orange tones of the twilight sky cast the subjects in an appealing warm glow, whilst the gestural brushwork conveys the contrasting textures of the rolling dunes and cascading robes.

The painting is signed in the lower right-hand corner ‘OTTO PILNY’. Pilny (1866-1936) was a Czech-Swiss painter, who is known for his Orientalist genre scenes that captured the warm light of the North African landscape.

Rendering a highly desirable subject in a stunning colour palette, this magnificent painting would light up any home interior.

Artist/Maker: Otto Pilny

More Information

Documentation:	Signed
Origin:	Switzerland
Period:	1900-1919
Materials:	Oil on canvas.
Creation Date:	1913
Styles / Movements:	Other
Dealer Reference #:	13099
Incollect Reference #:	704914

Dimensions

W.	55.91 in;	H.	40.16 in;	D.	2.36 in;
W.	142 cm;	H.	102 cm;	D.	6 cm;

Message from Seller:

Mayfair Gallery is a leading gallery in the field of art and antiques, holding a large collection of unique pieces for sale. The breadth of the gallery’s collection is wide, and includes items from a range of periods, styles and geographical origins, as well as works by famous artists and craftsmen. The main focus of the gallery’s collection is, however, on items produced during the 19th and early 20th century.