Dressing The Bride (1882)

Rudolf Ernst prints bring glowing tiles, carved doorways, carpets and the quiet life of mosques and palaces into your home. Ernst was an Austrian-born painter working in Paris, one of the most accomplished Orientalists of his day, famous for his jewel-like detail. Our collection of fine art prints covers his mosque interiors, guards and musicians, merchants and harem scenes.

About Rudolf Ernst

Rudolf Ernst was born in Vienna on 14 February 1854, the son of the architect Leopold Ernst, who encouraged his art. He entered the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts at fifteen, spent time in Rome copying the old masters, and continued his studies in Vienna with August Eisenmenger and Anselm Feuerbach.

In 1876 he settled in Paris, where he exhibited at the Salon from the following year under the name Rodolphe Ernst. He travelled to Spain, Morocco, Egypt and Istanbul to study and record what he saw, and from 1885 devoted himself entirely to Orientalist subjects.

In 1905 he moved to Fontenay-aux-Roses near Paris, where he set up a workshop producing faience tiles with Oriental designs, decorated his house in Ottoman style and lived a quiet, reclusive life. He died there in 1932; the exact date was apparently not recorded.

Style and Subjects

Ernst painted with meticulous detail and a rich, warm palette. His pictures show the interiors of mosques, palace guards before carved doors, musicians, scholars and merchants, and women in harems, surrounded by inlaid wood, patterned tiles, brass lamps and carpets.

He worked from photographs, prints and memories of his travels, and his love of decorative surfaces led him to make tiles and ceramics himself.

Famous Works

• The Musician (1884). An early Orientalist figure from just before he turned fully to the subject.
• The Letter (1888), Dahesh Museum of Art, New York. A woman reading a letter in a rich interior.
• The Chess Game, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Nantes. Players absorbed in a game.
• The Rug Merchant, Los Angeles County Museum of Art. A merchant showing his carpets.
• After Prayers, Mathaf Gallery, London. A worshipper resting after prayer.
• In the Mosque. A quiet mosque interior with glowing tiles.
• The Nubian Guard. A guard standing before a richly decorated doorway.

Decorating with Ernst Prints

Ernst's detailed interiors, like After Prayers or The Hammam, suit a study, library or living room with rich colours, rugs and wood. They pair beautifully with Moroccan or Middle Eastern textiles and brass.

His guards and musicians make a striking pair for a hallway or entrance.

FAQ

Who was Rudolf Ernst?

Rudolf Ernst (1854–1932) was an Austrian-born painter who worked in Paris, known for detailed Orientalist paintings. He exhibited as Rodolphe Ernst.

What did Rudolf Ernst paint?

From 1885 he painted only Orientalist subjects: mosque interiors, guards, musicians, scholars, merchants and harem scenes.

Did Ernst travel to the places he painted?

Yes. He travelled to Spain, Morocco, Egypt and Istanbul, and also worked from photographs and prints.

Where can I see Ernst's paintings?

The Dahesh Museum of Art in New York, the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Nantes and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art hold his work.

Related Artists

• Jean-Léon Gérôme: leading French Orientalist painter
• Ludwig Deutsch: fellow Austrian Orientalist working in Paris
• Anselm Feuerbach: one of his teachers in Vienna
• Jean-Joseph Benjamin-Constant: French Orientalist of the same generation