Curatorial Narrative In the mid-19th century, European fascination with Islamic art had reached a fever pitch, prompting mile Prisse d’Avennes to compile his seminal work on the subject. “Arabesques; pages jumelles d’un Qorn mauresque” (1877) exemplifies this trend, as he meticulously transcribes and reproduces intricate Moroccan architectural motifs from an 18th-century Quranic manuscript. The artist’s technique, characterized by linear brushwork and a deliberate attention to detail, yields a visual experience akin to gazing upon the very pages of a sacred text.As one contemplates “Arabesques” at its intended scale, the palette comprising reds, greens, golds, and blues establishes an atmospheric weight that recalls the opulent tilework and intricately carved stucco found in Moroccan palaces. When enlarged to 60×44 inches, spatial depth and chromatic structure become even more pronounced. The interplay between these design element