
This is another painting depicting the wonderful old walled city of Medina Marrakesh, Morocco. An experimental departure for me, from my usual traditional, 'representational' style, this painting is an abstract, using mixed media (acrylics and collage on board) and measures approximately 65 x 45 cm.
I was inspired by a visit to that fabulously colourful city which instantly brought to life tales of the Arabian Nights and, in particular, a passage from what is arguably one of the most well-loved of Sheherazades stories: 'Alladin, or His Wonderful Lamp:
“The Maghrabi, the magician, after leaving the hammam with Aladdin, took him and trudged with him to the merchants' bazaar, and having diverted him by showing the market and its sellings and buyings, and to him: "O my son, it besitteth thee to become familiar with the folk, especially with the merchants, so thou mayest learn of them merchant craft, seeing that the same hath now become thy calling." Then he led him forth and showed him the city and its cathedral mosques, together with all the pleasant sights therein, and lastly made him enter a cook's shop. Here dinner was served to them on platters of silver and they dined well and ate and drank their sufficiency, after which they went their ways. Presently the Moorman pointed out to Aladdin the pleasaunces and noble buildings, and went in with him to the Sultan's palace and diverted him with displaying all the apartments, which were mighty fine and grand, and led him finally to the khan of stranger merchants, where he himself had his abode. Then the Moroccan invited sundry traders which were in the caravanserai, and they came and sat down to supper, when he notified to them that the youth was his nephew, Aladdin by name.”