Light of the East

The book "Light of the East"—which includes a part of the possessions of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council of the Union, Ruler of Sharjah—contains a valuable collection of works by prominent Orientalist artists belonging to various artistic schools and styles. The book documents and studies a collection of Orientalist works at the Sharjah Art Museum. It also provides a clear understanding of the characteristics and features of these works and the nature of the themes they address, allowing scholars or recipients to contemplate them and appreciate their aesthetics. Additionally, it offers an opportunity to examine the achievements of some artists who embodied their life experiences in timeless works that possess all the characteristics of fine art and painting concepts. This book does not aim to study the concept of Orientalism with its historical, political, and social dimensions; rather, it specifically studies this art collection from its aesthetic and artistic aspects, within the historical context in which it was produced. It addresses the nature of the Eastern themes, places, and ornaments that permeated European art and witnessed development and growth in the nineteenth century.