Nubian Woman

Jules Robert Auguste was a French painter, sculptor, and collector who traveled to North Africa and the Near East, making him one of the earliest Orientalist artists. This portrait of a Nubian woman from around 1830 reflects the growing European fascination with non-Western subjects that fueled the Orientalist movement. Auguste's collection of North African objects influenced his friend Delacroix.

The oil on panel presents the subject with a warm, golden palette and sensitive modeling of dark skin tones. The intimate format and direct presentation show Auguste's observational skill and relatively sympathetic approach to non-European subjects.