Pair of Orientalist paintings by J.E. Hill

This pair of paintings is by the British artist J.E. Hill, who worked primarily in the Orientalist mode and flourished during the late 19^th and early 20^th Century. Each painting in this pair is held within an ornately carved giltwood frame. Moreover, the works form a pendant pair: they were intended to be shown side-by-side and form a unified composition, as is evident from the stylistic and compositional similarities, notably the scattered pink roses on the floor of each painting.

Each painting portrays a standing female figure dressed in Orientalist garb. In the painting on the left of the main illustration, the figure holds a bowl lyre—most probably a lyre of East African origin—and stands beside an Arabic style, possibly Egyptian, brass brazier. In the painting on the right, the figure holds a brass platter laden with pink roses—the roses spilling onto the floor of both paintings. She stands beside a hexagonal Moorish style side table, upon which sits an Iznik style long-necked vase. In both works, the figures stand against white-washed walls and upon beautifully executed carpets.

The works are executed by Hill in the Aesthetic, Academic style so prevalent around 1900—the style typified by artists like Frederic Leighton. Hill demonstrates an eclectic Orientalism: the props with which he furnishes his paintings derive from East Africa, possibly Egypt, and the Middle East. Both works are signed and dated lower right ‘J.E. Hill / 1904’.

Frame: Height 83.5cm, width 58cm, depth 6cm
Canvas: Height 63cm, width 36cm