A Caravan in the Desert

About the Artwork

This drawing is one of many in which Narcisse Berchère depicted the desert landscape of Egypt—which France had attempted to colonize just a few decades before. Here, a party of travelers walks through a flat and expansive space accompanied by camels. After studying in Paris, Berchère made his first of several trips to North Africa, which served as inspiration for much of his work.

Inscriptions

Watermark: J WHATMAN, at lower margin on verso; Signed, at lower right, in ink: “Berchère.”; Inscribed, on verso, at upper left, in pencil: “18”; Inscribed on verso at lower center margin, in pencil: “2[?]102

Provenance

Shepherd Gallery, New York, NY 1976-2008: Mr. Noah L. Butkin [1918-1980] 2008: Mrs. Muriel Butkin [1915-2008] March 4, 2019: the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH

Quick Overview

Artist: Narcisse Berchère (French, 1819–1891)
Date: c. 1860s
Medium: watercolor on wove paper
Dimensions: Sheet: 19.3 x 31 cm (7 5/8 x 12 3/16 in.)
Type: Drawing
Classification: Drawing
Department: Drawings
Credit line: Bequest of Muriel Butkin
Accession no.: 2019.61

Data retrieved from the Cleveland Museum of Art on October 8, 2026. The museum may have updated its record since.