Stringing Pearls

Theodoros Rallis prints bring together the light of Greece and the color of the Orient. Rallis was a Greek painter, born in Constantinople, who spent most of his career in France, Greece and Egypt, and was considered one of Jean-Léon Gérôme's best students. This collection gathers art prints of his scenes of Greek churches and monasteries, village women at work, rabbis in Jerusalem and his richly detailed Orientalist interiors.

About Theodoros Rallis

Theodoros Rallis was born in Constantinople on 16 February 1852 into the Ralli family, one of the wealthiest Greek merchant families of the 19th century, originally from Chios. Although he was drawn to painting from an early age, his family opposed an artistic career, and he worked in the family business in London until his father's death in 1871.

By 1873 he was in Paris, studying with the Orientalist painters Jean-Léon Gérôme and Jean-Jules-Antoine Lecomte du Nouÿ. His work was accepted at the Paris Salon in 1875, he joined the Société des Artistes Français and kept a studio in Paris for the rest of his life. From 1879 he also exhibited at the Royal Academy in London.

In 1885 he spent two weeks at the monasteries of Mount Athos, drawing inspiration from Byzantine art. From 1891 to 1904 he spent his winters in a studio in Cairo, where he gave drawing lessons and became a friend of the poet Constantine Cavafy. He was made a Knight of the Legion of Honour in 1900. He died in Lausanne, Switzerland, on 2 October 1909 and was buried in Athens.

Style and Subjects

Rallis painted in the polished academic style of his teacher Gérôme, with careful drawing, rich detail and clear light, though some of his work shows the looser touch of Impressionism. He was fascinated by textures: embroidered costumes, carved church screens, tiles and carpets.

His subjects include Greek everyday life and religious devotion, such as girls praying in churches, monks in their refectory and weavers at Arachova, as well as Orientalist scenes of Cairo, Constantinople and Jerusalem, with harems, snake charmers, mosques and rabbis.

Famous Works

• Praying in a Greek Church, Mount Parnassus (1876). A quiet scene of devotion from his early Salon years.
• The Weavers, Arachova (1877). Village women at their looms in central Greece.
• Young Ottoman Woman (1879). A portrait of a young woman in traditional dress.
• Boa Charmer in a Harem at Cairo (1882). A snake charmer entertains women in a richly decorated interior.
• Refectory in a Greek Monastery (Mount Athos) (1885). Monks at their meal, painted after his visit to Athos.
• The Captive (Turkish Plunder) (1885). His most valuable painting, which sold at a record price in 2007.
• The Booty (1900), National Gallery, Athens. A scene inspired by Gérôme's The Slave Market.

Decorating with Rallis Prints

Rallis's Orientalist interiors, with their rich textiles and warm golds, reds and blues, bring a sense of luxury to a living room, dining room or sitting room. They look superb in ornate gilt frames.

His Greek church and monastery scenes suit a quiet study or reading corner, and his village and shepherdess scenes add warmth to a kitchen or bedroom.

FAQ

What art movement was Theodoros Rallis part of?

Rallis was an academic and Orientalist painter, trained by Jean-Léon Gérôme, whose work sometimes shows the influence of Impressionism.

What is Theodoros Rallis known for?

He is known for his Orientalist scenes of Cairo, Constantinople and Jerusalem, and for his paintings of Greek everyday life and religious devotion, especially in churches and monasteries.

Where can I see Rallis's original paintings?

The National Gallery in Athens and the Benaki Museum hold some of his works, but most of his paintings are in private collections.

How can you recognize a Theodoros Rallis painting?

Look for detailed interiors with rich textiles, tiles and carved wood, women in traditional dress, and calm, devotional or everyday scenes in clear light.

Was Rallis from a famous family?

Yes. He belonged to the Ralli family, one of the richest Greek merchant families of the 19th century, with businesses around the world. His family at first opposed his career as a painter.

Related Artists

• Jean-Léon Gérôme — his teacher and the leading Orientalist painter in Paris
• Gustave Boulanger — French academic painter of Orientalist and classical scenes
• Rudolf Ernst — Austrian-born Orientalist painter working in Paris
• Ludwig Deutsch — fellow Orientalist known for detailed interiors
• Nikolaos Gyzis — leading Greek painter of the same generation