Watercolour and gouache on paper
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/charles-dufresne-1045" aria-label="More by Charles Dufresne" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Charles Dufresne</a>
Spahi Attacked by a Lion
Presented by C.L. Rutherston 1926
abstraction
adults
Africa
animals: actions
animals: mammals
attacking
clothing and personal items
dress: nations/regions
figure
from recognisable sources
horse
jungle
landscape
landscape
lion
man
military
objects
palm
people
society
soldier
turban
uniform / kit
work and occupations
paper unique watercolour gouache
Spahi Attacked by a Lion
support: 394 × 505 mm
Presented by C.L. Rutherston 1926
<p><b>Charles Dufresne</b> 1876-1938</p>
<p><a class="acno-pop" data-gtm-destination="page--artwork" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/dufresne-spahi-attacked-by-a-lion-n04213" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>N04213</span></a> <b>Spahi attaqué par un Lion</b> (Spahi attacked by a Lion) 1919</p>
<p>Inscribed 'dufresne 19' b.l. 
<br/>Watercolour and gouache on paper, slightly irregular; paper 18 x 23 1/4 (45.6 x 59.2), painted area 16 x 20 1/4 (40.6 x 51.5) 
<br/>Presented by C.L. Rutherston 1926 
<br/><i>Prov</i>: [? with Galerie Barbazanges, Paris; ? with Independent Gallery, London]; C.L. Rutherston, London</p>
<p>Spahis are soldiers of certain Arab cavalry regiments in Algeria and Tunisia.</p>
<p>This <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/g/gouache" title="Glossary definition for 'Gouache'"><span>gouache</span></a>, previously catalogued as 'Spahi', was evidently a study for an oil <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/painting" title="Glossary definition for 'Painting'"><span>painting</span></a> reproduced in <i>L'Amour de l'Art</i>, I, 1920, p.81 as 'Spahi attacked by a Lion'. The painting measures 110 x 110cm. The main differences are that the oil painting is square in format instead of oblong, the tree trunk in front of the horse's flanks has been eliminated, and the colours are considerably brighter (in particular the horseman wears a brilliant red tunic). The painting was subsequently sold at the Palais Galliera, Paris, on 27 November 1968, lot 51, and is reproduced in colour in the catalogue.</p>
<p>Dufresne also made a rather similar <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/e/etching" title="Glossary definition for 'Etching'"><span>etching</span></a> of this subject, but with an upright format and with the horse more in the act of rearing.</p>
<p><b>Published in</b>: 
<br/>Ronald Alley, <i>Catalogue of the Tate Gallery's Collection of Modern Art other than Works by British Artists</i>, Tate Gallery and Sotheby Parke-Bernet, London 1981, pp.193-4, reproduced p.193</p>

Catalogue entry
2004-09-15T00:00:00
catalogue-entry
CATALOGUE_ENTRY
abstraction adults Africa animals: actions animals: mammals attacking clothing and personal items dress: nations/regions figure from recognisable sources horse jungle landscape landscape lion man military objects palm people society soldier turban uniform / kit work and occupations