THE ODALISQUE AND HER ATTENDANT IN THE HAREM

IN THE 19TH CENTURY ROME WAS AN IMPORTANT CENTRE FOR SPANISH ARTISTS, AND MANY OF THEM PAINTED SUBJECTS FROM NORTH AFRICA, TO WHICH THEY FELT A CLOSE AFFINITY. APART FROM THE ISLAMIC INFLUENCE AND THE CLOSE PROXIMITY TO NORTH AFRICA, SPANISH ARTISTS WERE ENCOURAGED TO PAINT ORIENTAL SUBJECTS AT THE ACADEMIES SINCE THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY TO PORTRAY THEIR COUNTRY'S HISTORY.