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Jean-Léon Gérôme—The Carpet Merchant, c. 1887

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One of Bill_I_Am's favorite paintings.

"It was the Court of the Rug Market that Gérôme visited in Cairo in 1885. The French painter was famous for presenting pictures of something he had seen or heard about during his trips. Sometimes he made oil studies then used them for his paintings. In others, he would set up artifacts that he collected to recreate a setting. A good portion of his Orientalist pieces was from imagination.

"Carpets are some of the oldest luxury items that people bought for their homes. Arab nations produced some of the biggest carpet merchants in the world. The Carpet Merchant features several figures. However, carpets are the central points. Three large rugs, one looks like a wall-to-wall, are draped on the balcony of a building. They are in a way that buyers can view them without too much trouble. A few other carpets are on the paved court.

"The merchant is standing on one of his carpets. To his left is an assistant who looks ready to receive orders. The merchant is conversing with a group of six people. One appears to be a woman, and the rest are men. Each one is elegantly dressed. It looks like a receptive group of buyers that listens to the merchant attentively. Away from the carpet negotiations, another group is visible in the background. A woman is coming out of one of the doorways of the only building in the picture. At the top, from where the displayed carpets are hanging, three men lean on the ledge, looking down at the court.

"Gérôme was one of the artists to embrace Orientalism. He compiled an impressive collection of are depicting various scenes and practices in the Middle East and North Africa. Egyptian architecture does most of the work to bring out the Orientalist style of the painting. Gérôme paid great attention to detail. The patterns on the outside of the building are distinct. Another characteristic of this piece is the vibrant use of colour. From the rugs to the head turbans to the clothes, Gérôme strived to paint a lively scene. The background colours are mute, which allows the foreground to pop. The artist managed to apply colour in a way that gives depth to the artwork."

https://www.jeanleongerome.net/carpet-merchant/
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Comments

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Bommom

True, which he was for more than a year.

Bluestockings

It could have been that, or maybe he was in pain. Pain will make a person short-tempered.

Bommom

I've not really kept tabs on the comments, so didn't realize that you were absent. I'm sorry to hear you two had a falling out. He sometimes misunderstood others' comments. I think that can come from not hearing voice inflection or seeing facial expressions along with comments.

Bluestockings

In case you noticed my absence from the thoughts and prayers puzzle, Gayle . . . Bill and I had a falling out a while back. He told me off roundly and we stopped solving each other's puzzles, for the most part. Mike tagged Bill on one of my puzzles just after Bill's extended absence, and I asked about his back surgery, and he told me. I told him then how terribly sorry I was.

Bommom

@WPGP the various links mentioned in this conversation thread might give you more insight. ~Gayle

Bommom

Thank you, Eleanor, for your kind thoughts. Bill was like family and I still have times of sadness although less frequent than in the first several weeks. Most often it's when I think I'd like to tell him something and realize I can't.

eleanor_de

I just solved this puzzle yesterday (for the 2nd time, I believe) and went immediately to the one you linked here, Gayle. Thank you for that. It provided the most information I have seen as to what happened, and I am glad to know and not wonder any longer. It was hard to read all the comments, but so poignant. I was saddened all over again that I had not been able to say good-bye, and then again so glad to see how many people did, and how much this must have meant to Bill.
Thank you again Gayle, and my condolences to you as well.

Bommom

Thanks, Barb! :-)

Bubble

I hope you post it again Gayle and thanks for being you. 🌞

Bommom

Barb, we surely do have an unpredictable healthcare system. At times it can be miraculous, at other times, not so much. There are times when the grass looks greener when we compare ours with a couple of other countries.

I think I've posted Gérôme's Carpet Merchant at least four times over the nine years that I've been posting puzzles. Bill always enjoyed it and would solve it again and comment each time I posted it. He worked in Saudia Arabia for six years at one time and brought home a few small carpets made in Pakistan, which he treasured.

Bubble

@Bommom
I have to say Gayle that having read about Bill suffering for a year under the impression that he had sciatica - this fills me with such sadness.

His doctor who diagnosed sciatica should have sent him to a specialist when nothing eased Bill's pain. I'm at a loss to understand the American health system.

Bubble

A beautiful painting - carpets were a sign of wealth and the one displayed here is a favourite. I hope the others were put away.
I can see why Bill loved this particular painting - its a gem - thank you Gayle.

Bommom

Yesterday, July 2, would have been Bill's 70th birthday. His death does seem sudden, yet in hindsight perhaps not. For a very long time (well more than a year) he was dealing with pain that his doctor diagnosed as sciatica. No matter what he did, the pain persisted and increased. Finally, by April 23, 2022, he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and was told he had enough time to get his affairs in order. That's a tough, blunt blow and on June 23 he died. In his last many months, he suffered in severe, unremitting pain no matter how much medication he was given. He suffers no more.

For those of you who did not hear of Bill's death until now, here's a link that has other links within the comments.

https://www.jigidi.com/jigsaw-puzzle/1xbp90kx/edited-thoughts-and-prayers-for-bill-i-am/

I had wondered at Bill's absence from these pages, and am sorry to learn why. Thank you for choosing this way to let us know.

sweetdee

Very sad to learn of Bill's passing. Thanks, Gayle, for this tribute to him. I hope his spirit is soaring somewhere on a magic carpet.

patlander

I remember when you first posted this wonderful painting and the remarks that Bill made. I always enjoyed Bill's ramblings about his past. I'm sorry to hear of his death. It seems so sudden.

just from little remarks he made, i think he spent time in India as well

themagicofhands

Thank you for this puzzle tribute to Bill. I didn't know he had passed. :'(

albertwinestein

Thanks, Gayle.
A beautiful tribute puzzle to Bill. He did love these sorts of puzzles from the Orient, having seen and experienced so much of that life himself. Very fitting indeed.

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