Odalisque (Odalisca)

In the Ottoman Empire the word odalisque (Turkish odalik, chambermaid) was applied to slave women who belonged to the harem. They were not considered concubines of the harem since only a few had the rare chance of seeing the Sultan, this was just possible for those who sang or danced very well.


No Império Otomano o termo odalisca (Turco odalik, criada de quarto) aplicava-se às mulheres escravas que pertenciam ao serralho. Não se consideravam concubinas do harém porque raras tinha oportunidade de ver o Sultão, normalmente só as que cantavam ou dançavam muito bem.

Ferdinand Roybet (1890-1920)-'odalisque'-oil on canvas-ca 1870 St Petersburg-Hermitage

Rudolf Ernst (1854-1932)-'odalisque with cupids'-oil on canvas Private collection

Frederick Mulhaupt (1871-1938)-''daughter of the Orient-oil on canvas

Henri Adrien Tanoux (1865-1923)-'the beautiful slave of the harem'-oil on canvas

Fabio Fabbi (1861-1946)-'odalisque'-oil on canvas