AUGUSTE VEILLON | Morning Prayers

Sale: Dobiaschofsky, Bern, 7 May 2010, lot 333
Purchased at the above sale by the present owner

The canvas has not been lined. There is some fine hairline craquelure throughout, notably in the sky. With the exception of two small spots of cosmetic retouching in the sky in the upper left quadrant and in the sky to the left of the camel in the background respectively, inspection under ultra-violet light reveals no further sign of restoration. This work is in good condition and is ready to hang. Presented in a decorative gilt frame.
"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."

The high desert, morning: as the sun rises in the east, a group of men face towards Meccca to pray. The scale of Veillon's canvas accentuates the vastness of the desert landscape and the dramatic sunrise. Scenes of prayer occupy a central position in nineteenth-century Orientalist art. Morning Prayers is not only a splendid evocation of the north African desert, but affords a fascinating glimpse into the ritual stages of Muslim worship. The central standing figure performs the initial invocation to God, or qiyam. The figure immediately to his right kneels in a brief moment of reflection before the sajda or prostration - already being performed by the two farthest figures - during which the forehead is reverently placed to the ground.