John Frederick Lewis - An Orientalist

John Frederick Lewis - The Mid-Day Meal - Cairo, 1875, oil on canvas (click photo for larger image)Orientalism is term used by scholars that refers to the imitation or depiction of aspects of Middle Eastern, and East Asian cultures by American and European artists (including writers and designers). John Frederick Lewis (1804-1876) was an Orientalist English painter, who was virtually forgotten for decades. However, from the 1970s forward he came back into fashion. His works now fetch very high prices--into the millions--at auction.