In this vibrant work by Félix Ziem, “Beirut, Return from Fantasia,” painted between 1885 and 1890, we are transported to a luminous and romantic Orient, characteristic of the 19th century Orientalist period.
The masterfully orchestrated composition revolves around a solitary tree that rises elegantly against an azure sky. The scene captures the fleeting moment when horsemen, likely returning from a fantasia—the spectacular traditional equestrian demonstration—traverse a sun-drenched coastal landscape.
Ziem excels here in atmospheric rendering: the distinctive luminosity of the Levant is translated through light brushstrokes and a subtle chromatic palette, where the blues of the sky and distant sea converse with the ochres of the terrain and the greens of the vegetation. The riders, depicted as dynamic silhouettes, bring life and movement to the composition, while the perspective stretches toward a vaporous horizon where sea and sky appear to merge.
Further Information
- Beirut, Return from Fantasia, by Félix Ziem, between 1885 and 1890
- 73 x 92 cm
- Petit Palais, Museum of Fine Arts of the City of Paris, not currently on display, Paris Musées
- https://www.parismuseescollections.paris.fr/fr/petit-palais/oeuvres/beyrouth-retour-de-fantasia
Félix Ziem (1821-1911) ranks among the most celebrated traveling painters of the 19th century. A French painter of the Barbizon School, particularly renowned for his views of Venice, he was also an unconditional admirer of the Orient, which he extensively traversed. His technique, characterized by a free and luminous touch influenced by Turner and the forerunners of Impressionism, allowed him to brilliantly capture the essence of the places he visited. His career was crowned with success, making him one of the most prosperous painters of his time, appreciated by both critics and collectors, including members of the imperial family.
