---
product_id: 67248041
title: "Orientalist Lives: Western Artists in the Middle East, 1830–1920"
price: "€ 129.58"
currency: EUR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 5
url: https://www.desertcart.hr/products/67248041-orientalist-lives-western-artists-in-the-middle-east-1830-1920
store_origin: HR
region: Croatia
---

# Orientalist Lives: Western Artists in the Middle East, 1830–1920

**Price:** € 129.58
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Orientalist Lives: Western Artists in the Middle East, 1830–1920
- **How much does it cost?** € 129.58 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.hr](https://www.desertcart.hr/products/67248041-orientalist-lives-western-artists-in-the-middle-east-1830-1920)

## Best For

- Customers looking for quality international products

## Why This Product

- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Description

Buy Orientalist Lives: Western Artists in the Middle East, 1830–1920 1 by Parry, James (ISBN: 9789774168352) from desertcart's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

Review: A carefully researched, wonderful new take on the artists inspired by Egypt - The publication in 1809 of Description de l’Egypte started a wave of Egyptomania that never stopped. By the 1830s dozens of artists made pilgrimages East, intending to capitalize on interest in the Orient. They would evoke emotions, pander to Western fantasies of the harem (with veiled beauties languishing on cushions) or depict scenes evocative of Biblical times. I have a very long shelf in my library devoted to the lives of Orientalists such as such as David Roberts, John Frederick Lewis and Jean-Leon Gerome. In addition, we have their diaries, letters and even autobiographies. So what’s new to say? Plenty! James Parry’s new book is a carefully researched, wonderful new take on the subject. He presents the nuts and bolts of what the artists had to do to make the trip East, carry out their sketches and paintings, and return home with enough material to gain fame and fortune. The fun of this book is in the detail – for example, how these artists obtained their dragomen, those colourful fixer/guides who could find you a house in Constantinople for an extended stay or procure a dahabiyeh in Cairo for the trip up the Nile. Most of the artists wanted outdoor scenes of bazaars, temples, slave markets and camel caravans, but oil is not a good medium to use in a desert country: it dries slowly and sand and dust stick to the paint. So artists relied on sketches and watercolours to record the details, and later they would complete the (hopefully saleable) oil painting; often, ‘later’ was back in London, Paris or Munich. Parry supplies an interesting discussion of the difficulties Europeans had in obtaining local models in the Middle East. Here female artists were more fortunate than their male counterparts; women might even be invited into the harems for a first-hand look. There is a hilarious quote from Amelia Edwards about how flies at Abu Simbel attacked her watercolours as she was painting. Other artists were surrounded by curious and sometimes hostile locals as they painted outdoors. Some artists stayed for prolonged periods. John Frederick Lewis lived in Cairo for nearly ten years. He was relatively well off and did not have to sell his paintings to survive. Parry contrasts him with the lesser-known Gustav Bauernfeind who was living hand to mouth. And there are plenty of new faces in the cast of characters. Parry does not dwell on the ‘big guns’ – he has more about the ‘lesser lights’ such as Elisabeth Jerichau-Baumann, which is a bonus. Orientalist Lives is an encyclopaedia with a theme: how did they do that? But it is an encyclopaedia that you will want to read again and again. Review by ancientegyptmagazine dot com
Review: too much text - If you think this is book full of art, well is not.Too much text.Better go to pinterest for art.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | 1,914,033 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) 10,654 in Islamic Religion 23,640 in Art History & Criticism 25,310 in Art History by Theme & Concept |
| Customer reviews | 3.1 3.1 out of 5 stars (7) |
| Dimensions  | 25.4 x 3.18 x 21.59 cm |
| Edition  | 1st |
| ISBN-10  | 9774168356 |
| ISBN-13  | 978-9774168352 |
| Item weight  | 1.5 kg |
| Language  | English |
| Print length  | 240 pages |
| Publication date  | 2 Oct. 2018 |
| Publisher  | The American University in Cairo Press |

## Images

![Orientalist Lives: Western Artists in the Middle East, 1830–1920 - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81CUTonAQsL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A carefully researched, wonderful new take on the artists inspired by Egypt
*by A***E on 24 September 2020*

The publication in 1809 of Description de l’Egypte started a wave of Egyptomania that never stopped. By the 1830s dozens of artists made pilgrimages East, intending to capitalize on interest in the Orient. They would evoke emotions, pander to Western fantasies of the harem (with veiled beauties languishing on cushions) or depict scenes evocative of Biblical times. I have a very long shelf in my library devoted to the lives of Orientalists such as such as David Roberts, John Frederick Lewis and Jean-Leon Gerome. In addition, we have their diaries, letters and even autobiographies. So what’s new to say? Plenty! James Parry’s new book is a carefully researched, wonderful new take on the subject. He presents the nuts and bolts of what the artists had to do to make the trip East, carry out their sketches and paintings, and return home with enough material to gain fame and fortune. The fun of this book is in the detail – for example, how these artists obtained their dragomen, those colourful fixer/guides who could find you a house in Constantinople for an extended stay or procure a dahabiyeh in Cairo for the trip up the Nile. Most of the artists wanted outdoor scenes of bazaars, temples, slave markets and camel caravans, but oil is not a good medium to use in a desert country: it dries slowly and sand and dust stick to the paint. So artists relied on sketches and watercolours to record the details, and later they would complete the (hopefully saleable) oil painting; often, ‘later’ was back in London, Paris or Munich. Parry supplies an interesting discussion of the difficulties Europeans had in obtaining local models in the Middle East. Here female artists were more fortunate than their male counterparts; women might even be invited into the harems for a first-hand look. There is a hilarious quote from Amelia Edwards about how flies at Abu Simbel attacked her watercolours as she was painting. Other artists were surrounded by curious and sometimes hostile locals as they painted outdoors. Some artists stayed for prolonged periods. John Frederick Lewis lived in Cairo for nearly ten years. He was relatively well off and did not have to sell his paintings to survive. Parry contrasts him with the lesser-known Gustav Bauernfeind who was living hand to mouth. And there are plenty of new faces in the cast of characters. Parry does not dwell on the ‘big guns’ – he has more about the ‘lesser lights’ such as Elisabeth Jerichau-Baumann, which is a bonus. Orientalist Lives is an encyclopaedia with a theme: how did they do that? But it is an encyclopaedia that you will want to read again and again. Review by ancientegyptmagazine dot com

### ⭐ too much text
*by D***V on 30 January 2020*

If you think this is book full of art, well is not.Too much text.Better go to pinterest for art.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Superb!
*by H***R on 11 October 2019*

James Parry has produced a beautiful publication, highly informative and a fascinating read. Attended a talk by James - a great story teller. I highly recommend the book.

---

## Why Shop on Desertcart?

- 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016
- 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories
- 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price
- 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members)
- 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection
- ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews

**Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.hr/products/67248041-orientalist-lives-western-artists-in-the-middle-east-1830-1920](https://www.desertcart.hr/products/67248041-orientalist-lives-western-artists-in-the-middle-east-1830-1920)

---

*Product available on Desertcart Croatia*
*Store origin: HR*
*Last updated: 2026-03-03*