A Zouave

Photograph of Roger Fenton (1819-1869) dressed in traditional Zouave costume. He is leaning against a table which is covered by an animal fur, with his right leg raised off the ground. He is facing partly right and is holding a rifle with both hands. He is wearing loose trousers, a cape and a hat and has a cigar in his mouth. There is a bottle and a tankard on the table beside him to the left and a plain cloth backdrop draped behind. The photograph was arranged by Fenton but photographed by his assistant Marcus Sparling. This is one of a small series of photographs of Roger Fenton dressed as a Zouave soldier. Zouave regiments from Algeria served with the French army during the Crimean War, and had a distinctive North African uniform. Fenton photographed Zouaves on a number of occasions during his time in the Crimea, as well as posing for this series of self-portraits.