A merchant of oriental weapons on a narrow, bustling street

(1821 Laval - 1908 Chennevières-sur-Marne) A dealer of Eastern weapons on a narrow, bustling street in North Africa offers his goods—a silver helmet with chainmail and a rifle-file—while two street dogs search for edible scraps at his feet. This characteristic piece of cabinet painting was created by a French artist who entered the École des Beaux-Arts in 1837 on the recommendation of Ary Scheffer and studied under Paul Delaroche. Landelle first exhibited in 1841 with predominantly religious and historical works. From 1865, he began traveling to the Middle East and North Africa, including Morocco, Algeria, and Egypt, increasingly dedicating himself to Orientalism. His works are distinguished more by sentimentality than ethnographic accuracy. Oil on mahogany panel. Signed.