Can't find the painting that you are looking for? No problem! We can paint any painting in any size, even if it's not listed on our website. Simply make a request and we will get back to you with a quote within a few hours.
Optional - receive your painting ready to hang. Note we are only able to ship framed paintings up to a certain size. Once the maximum size is reached, the framing option is automatically disabled. If ordered without a frame the painting will arrive rolled inside a protective tube with an extra 1.5" white canvas on all sides so you can easily frame it in any local frame shop.
Frederick Arthur Bridgman's dreamy, gazing Orientalist work The Siesta is a detached vision of a distant world. Like any artist of his day worth his salt, Bridgman studied in Paris, learning under the great academic painter Jean-Léon Gérôme whose stunning visions of classical and historical scenes appear upon first glance like photographic reproductions of ancient worlds. Taking the intricate sheen, precise outlines, and Oriental tastes of the Paris Academy to the United States, Bridgman dominated the huge market for such genre paintings. Initially remaining in Paris for some time, Bridgman made a number of journeys to the French occupied territories of North Africa in the early 1870s, compiling a great many sketches which he would work from for decades to come. Known through his deft reproduction of his teacher's methods and skills, Bridgman soon fine-tuned his own style, accumulating a vast collection of native North Africa dress, architectural elements, and curiosities which he painted from life in his Paris studio. Back in New York his works sold en-mass and his exhibitions were as expansive as the life's works of many artists.
The Siesta is typical of Bridgman's ability to utilise a bright palette to evoke the exotic and using, as was the fashion, a model to anchor the image in a sensualized mysticism. The genre of Orientalism, now suffused with the negative connotations of imperialism and exploitation, was once an immensely lucrative career choice for Academy painters. Indeed, after the Napoleonic Wars, many of the world powers amassed a huge collection of objects from Eastern cultures and, with an increased verve for archaeological expeditions, Western interests turned towards Middle Eastern and East Asian cultures. Not always with the intention to control and exploit, many artists and intellectuals were respectful and deeply fascinated by these distant worlds. Within Bridgman's The Siesta one can see and feel his respect for the traditions he depicted.
Real Oil Paints, Real Brushes, Real Artists, Real Art. The Certificate of Authenticity which arrives with every painting provides an assurance and verifies the authenticity of the hand painted fine art reproduction you purchased. Each oil painting is created by hand using only the finest canvas and oil paints available.
Important Notes About Your Painting:
If you have any request to alter your reproduction of The Siesta,
you must email us after placing your order and we'll have an artist contact you.
If you have another image of The Siesta
that you would like the artist to work from, please include it as an attachment. Otherwise, we will reproduce the above image for you exactly as it is.
Free shipping is included in the price of the painting. Once the painting is ready and dry enough to ship, we will roll it and ship it in a sturdy cardboard tube.
We always ship express via courier to ensure your order reaches you as soon as possible - normally within three business days. The total delivery time from the moment you place your order until the package is delivered to your door is normally between three to four weeks.
If, in the unlikely event you were dissatisfied with the painting after reviewing it in person, it can be returned for a full refund for up to 365 days after delivery.
When you receive the painting; you are free to return it for more revisions or else for a full refund minus our actual shipping cost -- which is, on average, $25 per painting.
1st Art Gallery provides a full warranty covering manufacturing and material defects for paintings purchased from our website. The warranty covers damage for normal use. Damage caused by incidents such as accidents or inappropriate use are not covered.
Depending on the degree of damage to the warranted painting, it will either be repaired or replaced. This warranty service is provided free of charge.
When purchasing a painting on its own, it will arrive rolled inside a secure tube with an extra 1.5" of white canvas on all sides so you can easily frame it in any local frame shop.
You may choose to purchase your painting framed, in which case, it will arrive "ready to hang". We offer more than 20 beautiful models, all hand finished and expertly assembled by our experienced framers.
Note that for safety reasons we can only frame up to a certain size. Once the maximum size is reached the framing option is automatically disabled.
If you are planning to frame your painting yourself,
use an existing frame, or frame it locally, you may choose to order your painting with a stretching service,
meaning that it will arrive mounted on wooden bars.
If you're considering not framing your painting at all, you may opt for a Gallery Wrap. The term Gallery Wrap refers to the way the canvas is stretched, which is by wrapping it around thick stretcher bars, about 1.5 inch thick, with the canvas being secured to the back rather than the sides of those bars.
All orders ship with UPS, FedEx or DHL and will arrive directly to your home or office. A tracking number will be emailed to you as soon as the order leaves our studio so you can track it online. All orders ship express and usually arrive within 4-5 days from the shipping date. Due to shipping restraints, many of our framed, stretched, and oversize paintings may take 6-21 days for arrival depending on the safest route determined by the postal service.