The Lure of the East : British Orientalist Painting / Edited by Nicholas Tromans

This timely book will be the first to concentrate specifically on the ways in which British artists have engaged with the Islamic world, stretching from Spain and Morocco in the west, to Afghanistan in the east. It will also reveal the many ways in which the art, architecture, design, dress and topography of Islamic lands have impacted upon British art and culture. As well as providing a visual feast of works, both well-known and previously unpublished from a period ranging from the late eighteenth century to the 1920s, the book will examine other factors that have shaped the relationship between the Christian and Muslim civilizations. Beyond the straightforward desire for imperial gain, these have included the rise of tourism and the expansion of the Grand Tour into the countries of the Middle East; the development of illustrated travel literature; a religious fascination in the landscapes of the Bible; and the search by archaeological expeditions for ancient Greek, Roman and Egyptian remains. The authors will particularly explore the ways in which western myths about the Islamic world stood up to actual experience when artists travelled to the Middle East. Essays by Rana Kabbani, Fatema Mernissi, Christine Riding and Emily M. Weeks.

English