Théodore Charles Balké (1875-1951) - militare

Theodore Charles Balké (1875–1951) - Portrait of an Officer

Auction Lot Description

Oil on canvas by the French Orientalist painter Théodore Charles Balké (1875–1951), depicting a profile portrait of an officer in uniform, characterized by the red headdress and embroidered ornaments on the collar.

The work is signed “Balké” at the lower left and bears, beneath the signature, the inscription
Théodore Charles Balké was a French painter active in Tunisia from 1899. During his North African sojourn he devoted himself to depicting landscapes, markets, scenes of Tunisian life, and portraits on commission. The present painting therefore belongs to his significant Tunisian period before World War I.

The figure, probably belonging to the military environment or the French colonial administration in Tunisia, is portrayed in profile against a dark background, with particular attention to the rendering of the gaze, the beard, and the details of the uniform.

Works preserved on the original canvas and wooden stretcher. On the back there is the maker’s mark and the French indication “6 F,” corresponding to the standard format “Figure.”

The painting is presented in a gilded frame, richly decorated with vegetal motifs.

The work shows age-appropriate conditions. Craquelure, traces and surface abrasions, small losses of paint, and natural varnish alteration are visible. The frame shows wear, cracks, and small losses of gilding and decoration. No recent restoration work has been carried out. The photographs are an integral part of the description.

Artist: Théodore Charles Balké
Year: 1916
Title: Portrait of an Officer in Tunis
Technique: oil on canvas
Signature: signed and dated at the lower left
Country of origin: France/Tunisia
Overall dimensions: 52 × 38 × 7 cm
Visible dimensions of the painting: 41.5 × 27 cm
Frame: included
Condition: fair, with signs of aging