Two Odalisques Playing Mancala in a Harem, 1742/43

ArtistFrancesco Guardi, Venedig 1712–1793 Venedig

ArtistGiovanni Antonio Guardi, Wien 1699–1760 Venedig

Oil on canvas

Dimensions without frame45,5 × 64 cm

Dimensions with frame61,8 × 79 cm

Status

on display, room 005

About the workOdalisques, enslaved women in a harem, are playing a board game that was popular in Asia and Africa. The painting belongs to a series of 40 “Turqueries”, which, through their free interpretations of Turkish-Ottoman life, testify to the Western fascination with this foreign culture. This resulted in many stereotypes, including the glorified image of the odalisques. The Venetian brothers Francesco and Giovanni Antonio Guardi were commissioned to paint this series by Johann Matthias von der Schulenburg, who had defended the island of Corfu against the Turks for the Republic of Venice.

AccessionAcquisition 1963

ProvenanceUm 1740 entstanden im Auftrag von Feldmarschall Johann Matthias von der Schulenburg (1661 - 1747), Venedig; nach 1747 vermutlich im Besitz der Nachfahren von der Schulenburgs; um 1950 Kunsthandel Italien erworben von den Nachfahren von der Schulenburgs; 5.12.1963 angekauft von The Hallsborough Gallery, London

Inventory numberM 244

Contact

sammlung@kunstpalast.de

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