A masterpiece by Étienne Dinet presented in Morocco

A masterpiece in painting thanks to its subject which is magnificently portrayed through the composition employed, the science of movements, the way the lighting is used, the intensity of the scene where stances and facial expressions are depicted in an extraordinary vision; this is a work by Étienne Dinet.

Carried out in 1900, this painting, entitled Le fils d’un saint M’Rabeth, is typical of the artist's style at the time, moving away from the orientalist style he was associated with. Far from conventions and all folklore, what is striking about the painting is its realism and its eloquence, along the same lines as one of his famous compositions, Esclave d’amour et lumière des yeux, painted the same year, purchased by the French State the following year, and kept at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris.

The subject, relative to religion in the present case, which is rare for the artist, is provided by the writer Sliman Ben Ibrahim, with whom Étienne Dinet worked closely. A fervent crowd gathers together to see and touch a young child, considered as holy. The child is carried by a tall man who pushes his way through the horde. The scene is perfectly portrayed thanks to the visual staging chosen by the painter who chose to use two horizontal sections: a large lower section which is very busy, and a narrow upper section, occupied by just one character, that of the child, crowned with a halo of light that comes from behind him, striking the white headdress that covers his head and shoulders. The image is tightly framed: the limbs of the characters are cut. There is no empty space. The image is dense. The number of shapes portrayed and the complexity of the links that bring them together by means of their movements, their gestures, the fold of their clothes, and direction in which they look, perfectly express the impression of commotion and adoration that such a scene illustrates. The light coming from the left plays a crucial role in highlighting the postures, such as that of the old man to the forefront dressed in white who devoutly kisses the child's slipper, such as that of the powerful bodyguard, who is lit up from behind, such as that of the child whose handsome, serious face is subtly lit up by reflections. We cannot insist more on the diversity of movements, stances, and expressions that animate this part of the composition in order to better portray this confusion of shapes, colours and bursts of light that emerge around the upper part of the child's head as he serenely and majestically dominates the scene.

This is a strong, impressive sight, made unforgettable by the accomplished artwork of Étienne Dinet.

Serge Lemoine

“Dinet’s religious works are extremely rare and Artcurial is privileged to be presenting this remarkable example at our sale at the Mamounia on 30 December. Le fils d’un saint M’rabeth is a masterful painting in which Dinet finds a sculptor-ly form of expression in the tradition of his friend Rodin. The expressiveness and the realism in all the faces up close to each other perfectly encapsulate the technique and originality that characterise his œuvre.”

Olivier Berman, Director, Artcurial Morocco

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Exhibition in Marrakech

27th December, 11am - 6pm

28th December, 11am - 8pm

29th December, 11am - 8pm

30th December, 11am - 1pm

Auction in Marrakech

Monday 30th December 2019 - 5pm


La Mamounia

Avenue Bab Did

40040 Marrakech

Morocco

Auction Contact
Fatima Zahra Mahboub

Tel. +212 5 24 20 78 20