Standing Arnaut seen from behind, with a curved sword

This finely observed drawing depicts an Arnaut, one of the Albanian mercenary soldiers in Ottoman service, identified by his pleated fustanella, voluminous sleeves and wrapped sash. Seen from behind, the figure turns his head in profile to the left, a long curved sabre resting loosely in his hand. The stance is unforced yet dignified, emphasising the mixture of poise and martial bearing that so appealed to Gérôme in these subjects.

While no specific painting has been connected to this sheet, Gérôme returned repeatedly to the Arnaut type throughout his career (fig. 1), whether as central protagonists or as supporting figures in larger Orientalist compositions. Drawings such as this one, precise in contour and costume but sparing in tonal development, provided the artist with a repertoire of attitudes that he could adapt fluidly across canvases. They attest to his sustained fascination with the Arnaut as both a model of exotic dress and a symbol of latent strength.