Sephardic Women of Tangier: A Portrait

In 1832, just two years after the French conquest of Algeria, French artist Eugène Delacroix (1798–1863) traveled to North Africa, creating a series of paintings and drawings that exoticized scenes of daily life in Algeria and Morocco. At the time, the Western world was swept up in a fascination with what they called "Oriental" culture, encompassing Asian, Mediterranean, and North African styles of dress, decor, and customs. While in Tangier, his delegation was accompanied by Abraham Benchimol (Ben-Chimol), a translator with the French consulate who also acted as a guide and adviser to Delacroix. Benchimol introduced the artist to Tangier’s Sephardic culture, taking him to a synagogue and a Jewish wedding. Delacroix painted this portrait of Benchimol’s wife, Saada, and his daughter, Préciada, on the day of Préciada’s marriage.