Auguste Raffet, Tatars Faisant des Aumônes, Lithograph, 1840

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Lithograph on paper realized by Auguste Raffet in 1840. It is part of the suite "Crimée". The lithograph shows a … Read more Lithograph on paper realized by Auguste Raffet in 1840. It is part of the suite "Crimée". The lithograph shows a group of Tatar men exiting a mosque or religious building, surrounded by beggars and the needy waiting outside. Behind the donors, a group of elders and religious figures wearing turbans and robes emerges from the building’s dark entrance, emphasizing the ceremonial and communal character of the act. This image reflects a core element of Islamic and Crimean Tatar culture — charitable giving (zakat) — which was part of daily life and religious obligation. Raffet presents this practice not as exotic spectacle, but as a structured social ritual, highlighting the orderly hierarchy (elders inside, younger donors distributing, poor kneeling in front) and the blend of spiritual and civic duty embedded in Tatar customs. Image dimension cm. 26x20. Signed and dated in the plate. Very good condition. Auguste Raffet was a leading French lithographer and illustrator, initially trained by Théodore Géricault. While best known for military and historical scenes, he also produced many Orientalist and travel-themed lithographs during the 1830s–1850s, especially during expeditions to Russia, the Crimea, and the Ottoman Empire. This work was created during his collaboration with Anatole de Demidoff for the illustrated travel atlas Voyage dans la Russie méridionale et la Crimée (published 1840–42 by Gihaut Frères in Paris). In that atlas, Raffet depicted not only landscapes and costumes but also funeral customs and religious sites of the region — this sheet fits within that ethnographic dimension. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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