Arab Horsemen

A key member of the Orientalist movement in nineteenth century art, Schreyer was a close follower of French Romantic painter Eugène Delacroix.  Orientalism captured images of the life, history and topography of Turkey, Syria, the Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and other Near Eastern and Crimean locales.

The German-born painter studied in Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart and Munich before traveling through Russia and visiting Syria, Egypt and Algeria.  During his travels, Schreyer learned Arabic and immersed himself in Bedouin (nomadic Arab) life. As this painting demonstrates, the artist specialized in depicting accurately dressed Bedouin men as noble herdsmen, brave hunters and warriors.