Jorel, Namouna, 1800s, Lithograph, Framed

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This is a beautiful antique lithograph entitled "namouna". She is sitting at an open window looking very pensive. The image … Read more This is a beautiful antique lithograph entitled "namouna". She is sitting at an open window looking very pensive. The image is remarkably well done.

beneath the picture is printed: picou, pinx: imp. Bertauts p. Cadet ii: a jorel lith: marchant edit alliances des arts.

there are some age spots on the paper. These can be treated by a professional.

the frame is black stained wood with some aged worm holes. The picture is covered with a glass panel.

there are two sources for the character of namouna.
the first is from a 1831 poem by alfred de musset, called namouna. The opening song is 'une femme est comme votre ombre : courez après, elle vous fuit ; fuyez-la, elle court après vous.' (a woman is like your shadow : run after her and she runs away; run away from her and she follows you).

the second example is the story of namouna is from the ballet by edouard lalo which is set in 17th-century corfu. It tells the story of lord adriani who loses everything, including namouna, his favourite slave-girl, in a bet with count ottavio. See less