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The composition of "A Well in the East," dated 1847, in the Wallace Collection, London (inv. no. P 263) has been reversed in this picture. The rich coloring of the sunset and the thick impasto of our picture are reminiscent of Decamps' painting. However, the lack of definition of forms at both sides of the picture, the reversal of the composition and the unusual signature in cursive script suggest that the painting is a forgery. Dewey F. Mosby in "Alexandre-Fabriel Decamps, 1803-1860" dissertation, Harvard University, 1973, illustrates a number of forgeries involving reversal of compositions (nos. 224, 24, and 62).

Page data

Page
1
Source index
0
Type
photo
Media ID
21a59ca6693c8579
Size
unknown

Document data

ID
23610
Core
obj
Type
drawing
DTO data
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    "id": "23610",
    "sourceUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/37.8",
    "contentType": "drawing",
    "stage": "normalized",
    "title": "Sunset, Tombs Near Cairo",
    "description": "The composition of \"A Well in the East,\" dated 1847, in the Wallace Collection, London (inv. no. P 263) has been reversed in this picture. The rich coloring of the sunset and the thick impasto of our picture are reminiscent of Decamps' painting. However, the lack of definition of forms at both sides of the picture, the reversal of the composition and the unusual signature in cursive script suggest that the painting is a forgery. Dewey F. Mosby in \"Alexandre-Fabriel Decamps, 1803-1860\" dissertation, Harvard University, 1973, illustrates a number of forgeries involving reversal of compositions (nos. 224, 24, and 62).",
    "provenance": "Mrs. S. D. Warren; Mrs. S. D. Warren Sale, American Art Association, New York, January 8, 1903, no. 42; purchased by Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1903; by bequest to Walters Art Museum, 1931.",
    "date": "19th century",
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    "dimensionsRaw": "H: 12 13/16 x W: 24 13/16 in. (32.5 x 63 cm); Framed H: 24 1/2 x W: 36 1/2 in. (62.23 x 92.71 cm)"
}

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Document identity
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    "localId": "23610",
    "label": "Sunset, Tombs Near Cairo",
    "core": "obj",
    "dtoType": "drawing",
    "citationUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/37.8"
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Document source metadata
{
    "id": "23610",
    "sourceUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/37.8",
    "contentType": "drawing",
    "stage": "normalized",
    "title": "Sunset, Tombs Near Cairo",
    "description": "The composition of \"A Well in the East,\" dated 1847, in the Wallace Collection, London (inv. no. P 263) has been reversed in this picture. The rich coloring of the sunset and the thick impasto of our picture are reminiscent of Decamps' painting. However, the lack of definition of forms at both sides of the picture, the reversal of the composition and the unusual signature in cursive script suggest that the painting is a forgery. Dewey F. Mosby in \"Alexandre-Fabriel Decamps, 1803-1860\" dissertation, Harvard University, 1973, illustrates a number of forgeries involving reversal of compositions (nos. 224, 24, and 62).",
    "provenance": "Mrs. S. D. Warren; Mrs. S. D. Warren Sale, American Art Association, New York, January 8, 1903, no. 42; purchased by Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1903; by bequest to Walters Art Museum, 1931.",
    "date": "19th century",
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Document source extras
{
    "inscriptions": "[Signature] Lower left: Decamps",
    "med": "oil on panel",
    "creator_ids": [
        "3835"
    ],
    "collection_ids": [
        "EAN"
    ],
    "exhibition_ids": [
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    ]
}
Page context
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