Charles Théodore Frère studied under Jules Coignet and Camille Roqueplan in Paris and was a frequent exhibitor at the Salons from 1834 through 1887. Though his first entry to the Salon was a view of Strasbourg, a subsequent trip to North Africa had a lasting effect on his work, and from 1839, his Salon entries were of Orientalist subjects. He lived in Algeria from 1837 until circa 1839, and traveled in the 1850’s through Constantinople, Egypt, Palestine, and Asia Minor. Egypt had a profound influence on the artist and his sensitive depictions of the environs unique to this land earned him international regard. He was also highly acclaimed in Egypt and the title “bey” was bestowed upon him by the government, encouraging him to maintain a studio in Cairo. In 1869, he accompanied Princess Eugenie to Egypt to witness the opening of the Suez Canal. He obtained medals for his entries to the Salons of 1848 and 1865 and built his reputation as an artist on these Orientalist subjects.

Frère’s views of Arab landscapes were popular with the European collectors of the time, notably King Of Wurstemburg, Louis-Phillippe, as well as American dealer George Lucas from 1860 onwards. His works remain in both private and museum collections across France and America.

Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Bowdoin College Museum of Art, Brunswick, ME

Dahesh Museum, New York, NY

Harvard University Art Museums, Cambridge, MA

Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, MN

Musée de la Marine, Paris

Musée des Beaux-Arts, Reims

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA

The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, MD