The Standing Bearer, Unfolding The Holy Flag 1876

"The Standing Bearer, Unfolding The Holy Flag" is an 1876 oil painting by the French Academic painter Jean-Léon Gérôme. This painting depicts a young man, likely a soldier, standing before a stone doorway holding a flag with the inscription "J.L.Gerome 1876". The man is clothed in a long, white robe, wearing a turban and a veil covering his face, his feet are bare. He is carrying a staff with a large green flag attached, which is partly unfolded. The flag bears an inscription and is decorated with a golden design. The background is dominated by the doorway and stone facade. This work is typical of Gérôme's style, which often focused on historical and exotic subjects. He is known for his meticulous attention to detail and his realistic depictions of the ancient world. The use of light and shadow adds depth to the painting, and the overall effect is one of quiet solemnity.