MOUSTAFA FARROUKH Beirut, 1901 - 1957 Portrait of an Oriental Man with Turban Signed M Farrouk lower right Oil on canvas, 44X35.5 cm Provenance: Turin, private collection Moustafa Farroukh trained artistically in Rome at the Accademia di Belle Arti di San Luca, graduating from the Royal College of Fine Arts in 1927. He then moved to Paris, where he continued his studies under the guidance of Paul Émile Chabas, President of the Society of French Artists, and other renowned French artists, including Jean Louis Forain. During his career, he exhibited his works in several cities, including Paris, Venice, New York and Beirut. In 1932, he opened a permanent exhibition in his studio in Beirut, consolidating his role as a key figure in Lebanese art. Considered a pioneer of modern art in Lebanon, he helped define the role of Lebanese art in the international art scene. For his achievements, he received numerous awards, including the First Prize of the President of the Republic in 1955, the Lebanese Order of Merit and the Order of the Cedar. Farroukh's style is clearly reminiscent of the naturalistic and impressionist movements of the 19th century, but is characterised by a strong imprint of Lebanese culture. His works depict scenes of everyday life, elegant portraits and traditional landscapes of his homeland, characterised by refined brushstrokes and a masterful use of light.