Paul Emil Jacobs

Painted in 1842, the present work is a réplique by Paul Emil Jacobs of a painting he executed in Rome in 1840 on commission from the King of Württemberg for his 'Villa Wilhelma.'  The initial title for the painting was Scherezade telling a tale to the Calif, as befitted the exotic Orientalist setting of Wilhelma. However, the 1840 version and the present work were executed during Jacobs' Greek period, when, following his travels to Greece he painted 'Greeks and only Greeks' (letter of Ernst Bandel, 29 March 1839). It is therefore much more likely that the composition depicts the Greek girl Kira Vassiliki and the Ali Pasha.

This composition became one of Jacobs' most iconic works.  It was widely circulated in the form of lithographs by Franz Hanfstaengel and C. Fischer, and was also the inspiration for Theodoros Vryzakis' drawing The Ali Pasha and Kira Vassiliki (fig. 1).

Depicting the Ali Pasha of Ioannina and Kira Vassiliki, the present work portrays an intimate moment full of tenderness and love. Kira, the daughter of Kitzos Kontaxis, joined the Ali Pasha's harem at a young age. With her beauty and loyalty she won the love and favour of the powerful tyrant. She kept her faith and her influence on the Pasha saved the lives of many of her compatriots.

The Ali Pasha (1789-1834) whose origin was from Tepeleni, Albania, became a governor of Ioannina after numerous uprisings and wars. Many famous Greeks served under him and his court gathered well educated people. Through his relation with England and Napoleon Bonaparte he became a well known figure in the western world. He was visited by Lord Byron during his travels in the region, and references to Ali Pasha in French literature were made by Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas and Balzac. His turbulent life attracted interest, and his great wealth and famous Harems were legendary. Fascinated by the persona of the Ali Pasha and his love story with Kira Vassiliki, both were depicted by major philhellenic painters of the time, such as Monvoisin, Faucher and Vryzakis (figs. 2 & 3).  

The present work shows off Jacobs' ability to capture detail exquisitely, notably in the depiction of the decorative elements and fabrics. In the rendering of the various textures and shades Jacobs created a work with such quality that it was rightly counted among his most distinguished creations.  The palette and dramatic luminosity are typical of the works he executed upon his return to Germany from Greece.

FIG. 1, Theodoros Vryzakis, Ali Pasha and Kira Vassiliki, sold: Sotheby's London, The Greek Sale, 14 November 2007, lot 23
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FIG. 2, Lithograph by Julien and Lemercier after Monvoisin, Ali Pasha and Kira Vassiliki, National Historic Museum, Athens
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FIG. 3, Horace Vernet, Ali Pasha, the lion of Epirius, 1825
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