19th Century Oil on Canvas of a Seaside Signed E. Billet

19th Century Orientalist Oil on Canvas by Étienne Billet (1821–1888), depicting a lively coastal village scene with figures, camels, palm trees, whitewashed architecture, and a mosque set against a vivid blue sky and calm seascape. The composition captures the warmth and vibrancy of a North African or Middle Eastern port settlement, with meticulous detail in the figures’ attire and the sunlit landscape. Signed “E. Billet” in the lower left corner. Presented in an ornate gilt frame with intricate foliate and scrollwork detailing. Dimensions (including frame): 1.75" depth × 20.75" width × 15.75" height.
Étienne Billet was a Marseille-born painter whose solid academic training and Orientalist travels defined his career. He produced portraits, genre scenes, and exotic landscapes rooted in realism and romanticism. His art saw regular representation in the Paris Salon and continues to appear in Museum's and exhibitions.