Reception of a Venetian delegation in Damascus, by Henri Stupfler

Author: Henri Stupfler (1860-1894) after the original attributed to Bellini's entourage
Title: Reception of a Venetian delegation in Damascus
Place of production: France. Venice for the original
Date of production: 4th quarter of the 19th century. 1511 for the original
Materials: oil on canvas

Description

This painting is a copy painted by Henri Stupfler of the Reception of a Venetian delegation in Damascus preserved at the Louvre Lens (inv.100) and attributed to Bellini's workshop. We know little about Henri Stupfler other than that he painted numerous portraits and genre scenes, and probably practiced copying throughout his life. In particular, he produced copies of Nicolas Lancret's L'Innocence and La Leçon de musique for the Château de Fontainebleau, the originals of which are in the Louvre.

The original of The Reception of a Venetian Delegation in Damascus, meanwhile, was produced after Gentile Bellini's trip to Turkey and is emblematic of a period when, as the Republic of the Doges' economic exchanges with Syria, Egypt and the Ottoman Empire grew, Venetian painting tinged its style with the influence of the Eastern Mediterranean.

The scene depicts the reception of six Venetian ambassadors by the Mamluk governor of Damascus. Its narrative character is quite faithful to the Damascene protocol of the early 16th century, when visitors were received in the stables. To the left of this scene is the horse market adjoining the stables, while other animals, typical of menageries or of symbolic value, complete the composition. In the background is the city of Damascus and its Umayyad mosque.