Rudolf Ernst

Private Collection, New Jersey (sale: Christie's, New York, 30 October 2002, lot 89)
Purchased at the above sale by the present owner

The panel is flat and even. There is a circa 16cm fine horizontal crack in the panel extending from the centre of the extreme left edge (visible in the catalogue illustration). Ultraviolet light reveals some signs of retouching, notably along a horizontal restored join across the width of the painting circa 3cm above the top of the signature, and in a circa 20cm fine diagonal line (probably addressing a scratch) starting in the left foot of the man at the front of the group, and some scattered spots, notably at the extreme edges addressing frame rubbing. To the naked eye the overall appearance of the work is good and clean. Held in an elaborate gilt frame. The catalogue illustration is overall accurate, although the colours are slightly richer and cleaner in reality.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Unlike many Orientalist painters, who made great efforts to advertise that their compositions were conceived or executed 'on-the-spot', Ernst made no apologies for the imaginative craftsmanship that took place in his Paris studio. The present work, painted long after his travels to the Middle East were over, brings together a number of interesting vignettes and well-observed details that were probably never witnessed by Ernst in one place or at one time.

The captive tiger was among Ernst's most popular subjects, and commissions resulted in several variations on the theme. The composition allowed him to show off in one his diverse experiences, his rigorous draughtsmanship, and his mastery at rendering light, colour, and texture. The men's and animals' anatomies, the hunters' weapons and accoutrements, and the desert landscape - no doubt modelled on sketches and photographs taken in the Sinai desert - are all observed with the same refinement to make for a compelling and sumptuous whole.