19th Century Arab Gentleman Watercolour

19th Century watercolour of a gentleman. Likely of North African or Middle Eastern origin  

Framed within an almost identical frame to those of chosen by Eugéne Girardet. The decorative script running along its border is a reproduction of the first portion of the Islamic shahada, which states “There is no God but God alone.”

Similar scripture found above the entrance to the Alhambra palace.

45 x 50cm