Texas art museum showcases French great's lost masterpiece

Eugène Delacroix, Women of Algiers in Their Apartment, 1833–34

Eugène Delacroix's Women of Algiers in Their Apartment will go on view in Houston on October 3.

Museum of Fine Arts Courtesy Photo

A lost painting by one of the greats of the 18th century, French romantic period, Eugène Delacroix, has not only been found, but will soon have a new Texas home at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. This masterwork, Women of Algiers in Their Apartment (1833-34) is an early version of Delacroix’s monumental Femmes d’Alger (1834), now part of the Louvre’s collection.

The last known whereabouts of the painting, which sold in 1850, and the story of what happened to the Women of Algiers remained a mystery for more than 150 years. Only in 2018 did the painting reappear when a Paris collector asked Paris gallerist Philippe Mendes to authenticate. The painting was indeed then authenticated by Delacroix expert Virginie Cauchi-Fatiga and then exhibited for the first time this summer at Galerie Philippe Mendes, Paris.

“After months of speculation about the destination of this truly extraordinary painting, I am very pleased to say that Delacroix’s first, long-lost Femmes d’Alger will have a public and permanent home here in Houston,” explained MFAH director Gary Tinterow, in a statement. “Women of Algiers in Their Apartment is a landmark addition to our collections.”

When Delacroix was 32 he joined a diplomatic mission to Algiers led by by the Comte de Mornay after France invaded North Africa in 1830. Invited into the homes of Moroccan Jewish and Muslim families, he sketched and painted scenes of everyday life seldom seen by his fellow French citizens. Comte de Mornay, who led the mission, would purchase Women of Algiers in Their Apartment from Delacroix but then sell it in 1850, when it disappeared from art record, until now.

The painting depicts the private sanctuary of the women and their maidservants who lived in the home of an Algerian official and reveals an intriguing story to be interpreted by the viewer. Both the Louvre painting and a third version of the scene now part of the the collection of the Musée Fabre in Montpellier influenced Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Picasso.

The MFAH has no intention of keeping this phenomenal acquisition private for long, so Women of Algiers in Their Apartment will go on view to the world at the museum on October 3.

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ON THE ROAD

6 must-try restaurants for your next Texas Hill Country getaway

Salt Lick BBQ/ Facebook

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While wine gets the majority of the attention in the Texas Hill Country, something has to soak it all up, and the region is also home to some of the state's best eats.

From legendary barbecue and famous desserts to elegant bistros serving elevated fare, these six Texas Hill Country restaurants are among our favorite detours. Add them to your next weekend getaway itinerary.

The Dodging Duck Brewhaus, Boerne
Named for Cibolo Creek's most famous waddlers, this Boerne gastropub has an international menu that ranges from blistered shishito peppers to fish and chips. But flowing beer calls for a sturdy foundation. Get your ducks in a row with a beer sampler paired with hearty German fare like huge Bavarian-style pretzels or a spicy bratwurst.

Old City Hall Restaurant & Bar, New Braunfels
Housed in a, well, old city hall, this graceful New Braunfels newcomer is now more of a hub of languorous date nights than municipal intrigue. Still, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t inspire a few debates. Should the appetizer be the lighter smoked crab dip with farm-fresh crudité or the indulgent truffle fries paired with a frosty gin martini?

Old City Hall in New Braunfels has our vote. Old City Hall/ Facebook

Salt Lick BBQ, Driftwood
Sure, some Texans obsess about post oak versus mesquite, but this Driftwood barbecue joint is not for barbecue cultists. While the famous circular smoker is mostly just for show, the all-you-can-eat family meal is still a rite of passage. For $33.95, guests can munch on beef brisket, sausage, pork ribs, and all the Texas fixings.

The Blue Bonnet Cafe, Marble Falls
This Marble Falls charmer, open since 1929, is famed for sky-high meringues that tower as high as five inches. Pie, however, is just the start. Almost all of the fare is a little oversized, from a Dagwood club to a hefty Wednesday meatloaf special. The stripped-down interior isn’t much to look at, but that doesn’t mean your eyes won’t be popping.

Vaudeville Fredericksburg At Vaudeville, come for the shopping; stay for the bistro cuisine.Vaudeville/ Facebook

Vaudeville Bistro, Fredericksburg
It’s a boutique. It’s a wine bar. It’s a stylish brasserie. Much like its namesake, Fredericksburg's Main Street stunner likes to lay on the variety. Start with Spanish-style grilled octopus, then head to the showstopping rack of lamb. The curtain call is a chocolate chunk pecan cookie almost richer than the dark chocolate pot de creme.

Calivence, Fredericksburg
This Fredericksburg winery's biggest surprise isn’t the bright Cab Franc. The property also hosts a charming bistro serving French-Californian fare. Housed in an 1869 Sunday house, the quaint spot serves pairing-friendly dishes like crostini, oysters, and a Thai steak salad with a minty chutney. And, of course, there's an absolutely killer crème brûlée for dessert.

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Texas art museum showcases French great's lost masterpiece

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