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| Life in the Hareem John Frederick Lewis, 1858 The Victoria & Albert Museum |
Made in 1858, “Life in the Hareem, Cairo” appears, at first glance, to be another so-called “Orientalist” painting with no obvious or relevant story behind it. However, this image relies on the then-popular “Language of Flowers” to tell its story.
The
posy of flowers held in the lap of the main figure is a love letter, in the
language of flowers. This device was a
favorite of the artist, John Frederick Lewis, and he often incorporated it into his work.
The
painting shows a view of the interior of the women's quarters of a Mamluk house
in Cairo, as an ornately-dressed woman, reclining on cushions, holds a bouquet
of flowers and another woman brings a tray with coffee cups.
Lewis completed this watercolor painting in Walton-on-Thames, England though it is based on his many years living in Egypt.
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