Research
Handcolored lithograph depicting an Algerian infantryman of the French Armée Afrique.
Marks:
Inscribed at the bottom:
Lith. de Fr. Wentzel a Wissembourg. Déposé DÉPôT V Humbert et Wentzel, rue St. Jacques, 65 PARIS.
Provenance:
Private Collection, New York City.
The present lithograph was produced by the Wentzel family of lithographers and depicts a Tirailleur Algérian (Algerian sharphooter), a light infantryman of the Armée d’Afrique, which was developed by the French during the colonization of North Africa. The tirailleurs were officially created under the Second Empire in 1855 and were predominantly made up of native servicemen. The soldiers wore Zouave-style uniforms refered to as tenue oriental (Oriental dress), which comprised a blue jacket with yellow braiding worn over a sleeveless vest, blue harem trousers, a red sash at the waist and a fez or turban worn on the head.
Full research report available on request.