Albania in the Painting of Edward Lear (1848)

Albanien in der Kunst des Malers Edward Lear (1848)

Pikturat shqiptare të Eduard Lirit (Edward Lear, 1848)

EDL025 - Edward Lear: Costumes in Berat in central Albania, with the town in the background, 15 October 1848. “Passing below the cliffs of the gorge, and entering the street of bazaars which runs quite through the town, I was at once struck by the entire change of costume in this district - that of the Tóskidhes. Instead of the purple frock, scarlet vest, black waistcoat, and short kilt of Ghegheria, here all is white, or spruce fluffy grey cloth, with long, many-fluted fustianelles, while the majority, instead of the red fez, wear white caps. Beyond the bazaars, which are extensive and well filled, is a wide open space by the river, whence the view of the dark gorge of the Beratino, the town and castle are truly wondrous… Nothing could be more amusing than the variety of life below. There was the dervish with high white or green caps - the Mohammedan, as well as most of the Christian women, in loose blue feringhis and closely veiled - while infinite numbers of carts drawn by coal-black buffaloes - Greeks, Turks, Albanians, mingled and moved in profusely changing groups.” Edward Lear in Albania  (London 2008), p. 91-92.