19 Works, September 18th. is Fausto Zonaro”s day, his story, illustrated with footnotes #205
Dervish ceremony , c. 1910
Oil on Canvas
100 x 201.3 cm. (39.4 x 79.3 in.)
Private collection
The Dervish ceremony was painted in Turkey, shortly before the artist returned back to Italy in 1910. Istanbul was for Zonaro the place where his artistic style evolved and matured, and the canvases that he painted during these years are probably the most interesting works of his artistic career. Zonaro grew well accustomed to the customs and clothing of the Turks, as well as the true religion essence of the dervishes, represented in this painting.
Represented in this painting are Elisa Pante, wife of Zonaro, their daughter, probably Mafalda, and the artist himself praying amongst the followers. Watched by European ladies, a seyh of the Rufai order is about to heal several older men, prostrate on the floor, by walking on them. Nearby young girls also wait to be healed. On the left chanting Rufai dervishes include the artist, himself a dervish, fifth from the left. On the right Zonaro has shown, contrary to probability in a Rufai tekke, a Mevlevi dervish playing the neyh or flute. More on this painting
Fausto Zonaro (18 September 1854–19 July 1929) was an Italian painter, best known for his Realist style paintings of life and history of the Ottoman Empire…