Joseph FRICERO (1807-1870) Map reading Charcoal and watercolor Signed and dated lower left in Fricero ink 1835 Joseph Fricero, a painter from Nice, was one of the pioneers of Orientalism. A tireless traveler, he made his first trip to Algeria in 1830, where he stayed with the warriors of Emir Abd-el Kader. He also traveled to Russia, Tunisia, Sweden, Turkey, Palestine and many other countries, bringing back meticulous portraits and landscapes.

Composed of several subsidiaries, the Drouot Group is a major player in the art market. Hôtel Drouot, located in the heart of Paris, has been the world's largest public auction center since 1852. 15 salerooms are available to more than 70 auction houses. The emulation generated by an annual offer of 230,000 artworks from 21 major specialities - from Antiquity to street art - attracts some 3,000 visitors every day. The Group's digital platform, Drouot.com, offers digital sales - Live auctions (live broadcasting and participation in auctions), Online-only auctions (dematerialised auctions) and Buy Now sales (sales of lots at fixed prices). Nearly 2 million items are offered annually by 600 auction houses. Auction news is reported every week in La Gazette Drouot, the leading weekly magazine for the art market and culture published by Auctionspress.