Simply Fine Art - The Summit of Paintings

OrientalismDepictions of Islamic "Moors" and "Turks" (imprecisely named Muslim groups of North Africa and West Asia) can be found in Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque art. The first stirrings of Orientalism in Western art are found in Biblical scenes in Early Netherlandish painting, where secondary figures, especially Roman and Jewish ones, are given exotic costumes that distantly reflect the turbans and other clothes of the contemporary Near East. The Three Magi in Nativity scenes were an especial focus for this. Renaissance Venice had a phase of particular interest in depictions of the Ottoman Empire in painting; Gentile Bellini, who travelled to Constantinople and painted the Sultan, and Vittore Carpaccio were the leading exponents. By then the depictions were rather more accurate, with men typically dressed all in white.

The Christian Martyrs The Standard Bearer Arab Girl with Waterpipe Thumbs Down Bashi-Bazouk Singing The Pipelighter A Bath, Woman Bathing Her Feet A Street Scene in Cairo Almehs playing Chess in a Café Napolean and his General Staff in Egypt Slave Market The Belly-Dancer