Orientalists: Western Artists in Arabia, the Sahara, Persia and Hardcover – August 2, 2006

For years the orientalist painters and their style have been mentioned in variety of books, often very sporadic and more so incomplete. For me the hunt for this chapter in art ended the day that I laid my hands on "The Orientalists" by Kristian Davies.Being an international artist for more than 30 years and having access to many books and references and museum in Asia, Europe and America I can say with absolute confidence that this book is the missing link for this genre. It encompasses the greatest of the orientalists and gives everyone the credit they deserved and in most cases not given. Alas, the more impressive side is the smell of the sand, heat of the sun and dryness of the wind of the region that you feel when you read this book. Kristian Davies has done his job with great precision and very methodically, enthusiastic but not overwhelmingly. There isn't any part of the book that leaves you wondering about how or why. The language is clear and flows without creating complication so you won't acquiesce to leave it before you are finished reading it. The discussion about the techniques and methods is accurate and with knowledge of the art. This book is perfectly balanced and shows no sign of siding with east or west, any prejudice towards nationality, politics or religion, yet it is clearly written with stamps of time and knowledge of 21st century.The plates are very high quality and the details are chosen nicely and justly. Color reproduction and accuracy is superb.The only wish that I would lay upon it would be the fact that I know there must have been a large number of works that Kristian would have liked to include but not possible due to market and cost limitation. I highly recommend this book to anyone who seeks to know about art of painting as I have plans of making it a corner stone for my workshops.

Brilliant book which almost completely covers the subject: sharp in-depth research, devotion, based on personal experience - Kristian Davies is an American art historian, who travelled extensively throughout the Mediterranean, lived in the Middle East. He is not just another ignorant preaching to the illiterates (one can easily do it with contemporary art) - a graduate of Northwestern University and La Nouvelle Sorbonne, who contributed to "Arts & Antiques", "Antique and the Arts Weekly" etc, etc - and who wrote also "Artists of Cape Ann".So, this fascinating volume generously provides you with over 300 super illustrations from more than 60 art collections around the worls - many are published for the first time, brings back forgotten and unknown names.Following the great artists of XIX century (from Jean-Louis Gerome to Vassily Vereshchagin) one can share a true feast of Great Pyramids, Holy Land, caravans, harems, slave markets, Arabia, Persia, India...Sure, you can find these names in Benezit (which is a must too - Dictionary of Artists - 14 Volumes (First English Edition) , but Davies book gives them colours and shapes. It is more condensed than Christine Peltre ( Orientalism in Art - which is also a highly recommended research, and might be supported by Wicked Dreams ( Noble Dreams, Wicked Pleasures: Orientalism in America, 1870-1930 . These three books covered the subject almost completely - at least to me, and are really useful to both professionals and amateurs. Highly recommended - worth every penny!

The Orientalist painters were contemporaries of the Impressionists. Whereas most educated people know of Manet, Monet, Degas, Renoir and the other Impressionist Masters, the Orientalist Masters are today almost unknown. Their obscurity is almost Darwinian in its completeness.Kristian Davies like a physical anthropologist has gone back in time and dusted off the layers of dust that cover the Orientalist's paintings. What we discover are a number of painters with a vituoso technique and a solid command of the Western painting tradition. The high quality of the brush work, vivid colors and attention to detail are simply astonishing. There are few painters today that can match their technical skills.After the September 11th terrorist attacks, these first artistic contacts between the West and the Orient take on special interest. Davies bravely enters into Edward Said's Orientalist debate. He uncovers an artistic vision that is much more complicated than a simple we versus them.This is a beautiful book with very high production values. There are over 300 images of American, European and Russian Oreintalist masters. This book is highly recommended.

I chanced upon this book by chance on Amazon, and since I already have at least two other books on the subject, I was skeptical. But after reading the rave reviews, I decided to go for it. I am glad I purchased this book, it is far better than the other two because the author is so knowledgable, and the book is beautifully designed and executed. The color reproductions are far brighter and clearer than my previous books, and the author places closeups directly across from the full painting, which lends itself to greater appreciation. The paper and typeface colors are wonderful, as is the dsign of the whole volume.but best of all, the author weaves a fascinating story and analysis of this maligned and neglected genre. He tells a bit of history as he groups the paintings by either artists or subject. If you are into realistic, academic or historical painting, or just want to catch a glimpse of what the Middle East looked like in the 19th Century, this book is a must. Highly Recommended

What a book! Packed with the stunning, full colour reproductions.A must have for any artist who enjoys the realist tradition.