Sketches in Spain 1837

David Roberts made this watercolor sketch of a Spanish street, sometime in the 19th century. It’s a scene full of religious imagery, with what looks like monks, and a large crucifix in a roadside shrine. We might consider this image as an orientalist fantasy: European artists often portrayed southern Europe and North Africa as exotic and backward places. The antique architecture, the religious iconography, the locals in what look like ‘traditional’ costumes. All of these are well-worn tropes. But Roberts was Scottish, and Scottish identity had, for centuries, defined itself against English stereotypes of backwardness. Perhaps Roberts saw in Spain a version of his own country? Looking at paintings like this, it’s easy to accept national stereotypes at face value, but with access to historical sources, and local histories, we can challenge the assumptions of the artist. It’s the historian’s job to dig deeper.