In the early nineteenth century, the
prolific output of art in Europe found a new source of inspiration
in its encounter with the Islamic world of the Near East to
rival the attractions of the Grand Tour of Europe. Following
the pioneering six-month visit of Eugene Delacroix to Morocco
and Algiers in the 1820s, adventurers like David Roberts,
Leon Belly and Jean-Leon Gerome were captivated by the sights
encountered during journeys up the Nile, into the hitherto
unexplored Maghreb or on the Arabian peninsula. They marvelled
at the architecture, were fascinated by the different peoples
and their dress and, as artists, were often exhilarated by
the luminous quality of light. Inevitably, they sought to
capture their experiences on canvas and the images they produced,
and many artists after them, became known as Oriental Art.
Orientalism encompasses art, music, literature,
architecture and design but, as far as Oriental Art is concerned,
it is characterized by its focus on a common fascination with
a region rather than a movement or a style.
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Pilgrims going
to Mecca - Leon Belly
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From Delacroix and Ingres in the early
1800s through to Klee and Kandinsky over a hundred years later,
the Orientalists are collectively defined by their efforts
to depict aspects of daily life in the predominantly Muslim
culture of the Middle East. Even David Roberts' prodigious
output from his journeys through the Holy Land portrayed more
of the Islamic traditions and practices of the region than
those of Christian and Jewish settlers.
 Roberts
was born near Edinburgh in 1796 and as a young man travelled
extensively to pursue his interest in art. By the time he
was 42 he was an Associate of the Royal Academy and was planning
a major expedition to Egypt, Jordan and Palestine. His first
journey lasted nearly a year and he returned to England with
what has been described as 'one of the greatest masterpieces
in the history of art' - his stunning collection of lithographs
known as Roberts' Holy Land. In the days before the camera,
this almost photographic representation of nineteenth century
life in the Near East inspired fellow artists and the general
public alike. The following year, Roberts was elected a Fellow
of the Royal Academy and it was not long before other artists
took up the challenge to create images which would establish
their reputations and delight the art connoisseur.
 One
of the most successful - and most prolific - was Jean-Leon
Gerome. He studied under Paul Delaroche and Charles Gleyre
in Paris in the 1840s and his reputation was established following
a highly-acclaimed exhibition at the Paris Salon in 1847.
He first visited Egypt in the 1850s and made numerous trips
to the Near East thereafter. His influence grew with his appointment
as Professor at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in 1863 and the output
of Gerome, his pupils and those influenced by him form a major
part of the heritage of Oriental Art for the second half of
the nineteenth century.
 The
pursuit of Orientalism in art was not limited to Britain and
France. Germany and the United States also contributed their
share of masterpieces from artists such as Gustav Bauernfeind,
Emil Glockner, Frederick Arthur Bridgman, Edwin Lord Weeks
and Frank Waller. In the early 20th century, the well-known
artists Kandinsky, Klee and Matisse brought their distinctive
styles of interpretation to the images of the Middle East
in a way which Gerome and others may not have approved but
which reflected the impact of Impressionism which Gerome had
vehemently opposed.
Now in the early 21st Century the latest
generation of artists comprising talented Europeans, Arabs
and North Americans have started to make their mark as the
New Orientalists. The fascination of Western Art with Islamic
culture and the way of life in various parts of the Middle
East will no doubt go on producing vibrant works of art for
the enjoyment of future generations.
However, if you want to own a top quality
reproduction of one of the original Orientalists' masterpieces,
just go to Enquiries
and send us a request for a quotation.
 We
are able to supply these works of art, in oils on canvas,
in any size you require for hotels, offices or the home. Please
feel free to ask for a Quotation
without any obligation to buy.
And if you are looking to develop an
Orientalist theme for offices or hotel lobbies and bedrooms,
please contact us to discuss your requirements. Let our experience
guide your choices. In the meantime, you can gain some idea
of the range of works available by visiting our online galleries
of paintings by some of the best-known Orientalists.
See also our EGEE
EDITIONS Galleries
Lyons Corner House are proud to be associated with Dale Egee
of Egee Art Consultants. We have taken over Egee Editions
and aspire to continue the work built up by Dale Egee over
the past twenty five years. We hope to continue the tradition
of Arab art for the Arab World.
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