Artist: Franz Leo Ruben (German, 1842–1920)

Location: Building of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo

Title: SCENE FROM MOSTAR

Inventory no.: 0368

Artist: Franz Leo Ruben (1842, Prague to 1920, Munich)

Date: between 1878 and 1914

Technique: oil on canvas

Size: 200x130 cm

Signature: none

Description: The painting depicts Donja mahala (Lower Mahala) in Mostar, with the Sevri Hajji Hasan mosque. The mosque is surrounded by a stone wall, and its courtyard is full of greenery, flowers and a few nišan tombstones. On a nearby hill is a village with low-built houses and one tall structure, a tower, possibly belonging to a church. Opposite the mosque is a street with a row of houses with jutting oriels and high walls. A shepherdess in a long white dress is walking along the street, carrying a bundle wrapped in a white kerchief, and with a white scarf on her head. She is followed by a laden pack mule and a flock of sheep, behind which is a shepherd in a blue shirt, with a turban on his head, trying to herd the sheep together. The flock is passing by two women dressed in the same way as the shepherdess; by one of them is a laden pack horse. The women are portrayed in conversation. Further down the street are a few passers-by wearing oriental-style costume; one of them is carrying a water pitcher, and making her way towards the street fountain in the bottom right-hand corner of the painting, beside which a man is standing, drinking water, also wearing oriental-style costume. Beside him is a grey horse. A boy in blue čakšire (baggy, tight-legged trousers), a red ječerma (short waistcoat) and white shirt with a red belt, and a red fez on his head, is queuing for water. He is holding a pitcher on his shoulder, and another pitcher is standing beside him. Source: KONS BiH

Camera location	43° 19′ 54.1″ N, 17° 48′ 57.6″ E	View this and other nearby images on: OpenStreetMap	43.331694; 17.816000