The Lure of the East: British Orientalist Painting

by Nicholas Tromans, Emily M. Weeks (Contributor), Fatema Mernissi (Contributor)

With its unprecedented focus on the history of Orientalism in British art, this handsome book places the British within the story of how the genre was established in the 19th century—a story heretofore dominated by the French. Featuring both well-known and rarely seen paintings, together with sketches and photographs, this volume examines the work of British artists who engaged with Middle Eastern themes over three centuries, from the 1620s to the eclipse of the Ottoman Empire in 1922.

 

Included are works by Joshua Reynolds, J. F. Lewis, W. H. Hunt, David Wilkie, John Singer Sargent, William Holman Hunt, J.M.W. Turner, Roger Fenton, Andrew Geddes, and Edward Lear. Many of their images are, or purport to be, the result of direct observation of actual places in the Middle East. The book spotlights numerous topics of timely cultural interest, including the cross-pollination of British and Islamic artistic traditions, as well as Western myths about the Islamic world in relation to artists’ actual experiences.

 

Genres: Art, History

224 pages, Hardcover

First published April 9, 2008

Reviews

[Haythem Bastawy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book! Whether one is pro or against Orientalism as an institution, Orientalist paintings is always colourfully charming, almost fantastical in many ways. This book was compiled as part of Britain's exhibition of Orientalist Paintings in 2008 and it is the contribution of many authors and art critics. The reproductions of the paintings are superb, much more exquisite in quality than online many versions. It is a wonderful and eye-opening book to read.

[Johnny · Rating 4 out of 5]

No one reads the essays in exhibitions catalogues but this one is well worth it. Historic; literary background to very diverse group of painters from across Europe. Recommended and the pictures are stunning.