Lot 18. Théodore Jacques Ralli (Greek, 1852-1909), On the Balcony, Cairo, signed and dated 'Ralli/80' (lower centre) oil on canvas 29 x 21 ½ in. (73.6 x 54.6 cm). Estimate GBP 100,000 - GBP 150,000 (USD 129,000 - USD 193,500) © Christie's Images Ltd 2017

Provenance: Anonymous sale; Sotheby's, Billinghurst, 24 May 1988, lot 289A.
with Mathaf Gallery, London (inv. no. R88).
Acquired from the above by the present owner.

Note: Born in Constantinople of Greek descent, Ralli received his artistic education in the studios of Jean-Léon Gérôme and Jules-Antoine Lecomte du Nouÿ, through the support and patronage of King Otto of Greece. He made his debut at the Paris Salon in 1875, and in 1900 was appointed to the Jury of the Parisian International Exhibition. He also exhibited at the Royal Academy in London from 1879. Gérôme's precise draughtsmanship and photographic precision were not lost on the young artist, and Ralli emulated his teacher with great success. 

Theodore Ralli spent most of his adult life working in France and Egypt, where he settled in Cairo. Here the artist found inspiration for many of his most accomplished compositions.

The present work was painted with Ralli's signature attention to detail. The artist pays particular attention to the colourful traditional costume and facial expression of the woman, the texture of the fabrics and various architectural details of the terrace on which the lady is portrayed. The characteristic buildings of the city recreate an almost magical setting while the Giza Pyramids visible in the background complete the scene. The woman’s pose and expression, rather than sourced from the antique, has a realistic quality which establishes her as modern, rather than idealised. Here the artist renders a scene of everyday life with a delicate, colour-infused brush.