1875
National Library of France
Paris, France
The mysterious “East” captured the European imagination for many decades. A decisive role was played by translations of popular folk tales from Arabic, first into French, then into English and other European languages.
Théâtre de l'Opéra. 'Aida'. Avenue of the sphinxes at the gates of Thebes (act 2 scene 2)
1880
National Library of France
France
Popular interest in the “East” and its ancient history opened the way for many musical productions centred on famous historic personalities where focus was on the romantic, human dimension of history. Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Aïda is one such manifestation.
Théâtre de l'Opéra. 'Aida'. The banks of the Nile (act 3). Set by Jean-Louis Chéret
1880
National Library of France
France
Popular interest in the “East” and its ancient history opened the way for many musical productions centred on famous historic personalities where focus was on the Romantic, human dimension of history. Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Aïda is one such manifestation.
1880
National Library of Portugal, Digital Library
Lisbon, Portugal
Far Eastern cultures were documented as well, this book about China, written in Portuguese, was published in 1880 by José Maria de Eça de Queiroz.
1883
Istanbul Archaeological Museums
Istanbul, Turkey
A travel book about Constantinople (Istanbul) published in Paris by Colomb (1883). Advances in transport and books such as this encouraged more people to travel abroad.
1885
National Museum of Decorative Arts
Madrid, Spain
Document of 1885 detailing the monuments of Arab Spain: Granada (Alhambra), Seville (Alcázar) and Córdoba (the Great Mosque). This and other books like it contributed to an understanding of the significance of these monuments and consequently to their preservation.
The Relic: On the Harsh Nakedness of Truth – the Diaphanous Mantle of Fantasy
1887
National Library of Portugal, Digital Library
Lisbon, Portugal
One result of Orientalism was that it fuelled popular and scholarly interest in the social and cultural history of the “East”. Inventories and properly documented studies contributed greatly to the preservation of material cultural history.
1891
National Library of Portugal, Digital Library
Lisbon, Portugal
With advances in transportation and communication more people travelled and a new literary genre appeared: the travel book. In these, authors described remote places and related some incredible stories, some based in fact and some fictional. Rider Haggard’s King Solomon’s Mines (1885) was translated from English to Portuguese by Eça de Queiroz and serialised in the journal he founded, Revista de Portugal.
Design for book cover: Tres morillas me enamoran
1910–1936
National Museum of Decorative Arts
Madrid, Spain
The “Orient” is reflected in the arches and the clothes and generally in the decoration of this book cover, which was produced in Spain towards the end of the 19th century.
Paris: F.L. Schmied, 1926
Calouste Gulbenkian Museum
Lisbon, Portugal
Translations of tales from the Arabian Nights played a decisive role in fuelling European Romanticism. The mysterious and exquisite “East” fired the imaginations of European intellectuals in the fields of art, music and literature.