Une charmeuse, um 1887

Emile Cambiaggio
1857-1930 | Italian

Une charmeuse
(A charmer)

Singed "E. Cambiaggio" (lower right)
Oil on canvas

This magnificent painting by Émile Cambiaggio stands as the artist's masterpiece and a remarkable example of 19th-century Salon painting—exceptional both for its grand scale and brilliant technique. Measuring over six and a half feet in width, this extraordinary canvas envelops the viewer, transporting them into the exotic world of the Orient.

To be invited to showcase a painting in the Paris Salon was often the high point of an artist’s career. Artists reserved their finest creations for this prestigious venue, and Cambiaggio clearly followed suit with Une charmeuse, which was displayed at the 1887 Salon. The reclining figure of the snake charmer at the center is rendered with exceptional refinement and naturalism, reflecting Cambiaggio's talent. The supple modeling of flesh demonstrates his sophisticated understanding of light and form, and the luminous hues and intricate textures that surround the figures bring the mesmerizing scene to life. Every surface, from the radiant skin of the charmer to the rich textiles, is executed with extraordinary control.

This work embodies the height of the 19th-century Orientalist tradition, revealing the period's fascination with exotic themes while maintaining a disciplined adherence to academic ideals of draftsmanship and finish. The painting’s grandeur, coupled with its technical excellence, situates it firmly within the lineage of Salon masterpieces designed to impress through both subject and execution.

Émile Cambiaggio was an accomplished painter active in Paris for most of his life, where he absorbed the influence of French academic painting and Orientalist subject matter. Cambiaggio exhibited regularly at the Paris Salon, earning recognition for his figure compositions distinguished by polished technique and dramatic presentation. This great masterpiece of his oeuvre embodies his exceptional talent and critical role in defining Academic painting of the late 19th century.

Circa 1887

Canvas: 55 1/4" high x 80 1/4" wide (140.34 x 203.84 cm)
Frame: 66 1/8" high x 91 1/2" wide x 4" deep (167.96 x 232.41 x 10.16 cm)

Provenance:
Sale: Christie's, London, 21 March 1997, lot 74
Sale: Christie's, London, 3 December 2003, lot 90
Private Collection
M.S. Rau, New Orleans

Exhibited:
Paris, Salon of 1887, no. 432 (illustrated)