African Chief

Discussion

FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

Although this appears to be a portrait rendered quickly from direct observation, it is in fact an imagined representation of an African chief. Working in Paris, Mariano Fortuny y Marsal referenced elements from different cultures to construct this fictional scene, which is based on sketches he made and objects he collected while traveling in North Africa. The figure carries items from that region, such as the kabyle musket slung across his shoulders and a haik , the white outer garment encircling his head, neck, and lower body. The pata (gauntlet sword) and powder flask hanging from his waist, however, are of Indian origin.

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