The Caravan (ca. 1854)

Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps: The Caravan

Turkish Merchant Smoking in His Shop (1844)

Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps: Turkish Merchant Smoking in His Shop

Turkish Boys Let Out of School (1841)

Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps: Turkish Boys Let Out of School

Decamps was born in Paris. In his youth he traveled in the East, and reproduced Oriental life and scenery with a bold fidelity to nature that puzzled conventional critics. His powers, however, soon came to be recognized, and he was ranked along with Delacroix and Ingres as one of the leaders of the French Orientalist school. At the Paris Exhibition of 1855 he received the grand or council medal. 

This painting shows that some things truly are universal.

The Suicide (ca. 1836)

Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps: The Suicide

This somber subject is one not often depicted in painting. The lighting and color scheme make this a very effective, brooding image.