I'm planning to write my art history master's thesis (at Hunter College, NY)
on the Arab Hall at Leighton House, London. This house, now a museum, was
built by Frederic, Lord Leighton, who was President of the Royal Academy
when he died in 1896. The Arab Hall was designed to display a collection of
Islamic tile that was acquired by Leighton and others, including his friend
Richard Burton. A fully-realized subject for my thesis, which is in its
beginning stages, is not yet developed, but I'm interested in the room as
concieved and built by Leighton and his colleagues, as well as the museum as
a late 20th century institution.

Anyway, I will be visiting London and Istanbul in July to do some research.
I would be very grateful if anyone on this list has thoughts on places
(other than the obvious ones) that I might visit in or near either city,
especially ones that, in addition to being Orientalist designs, may
incorporate actual artifacts.

I would also be very grateful for any information about avenues for research
or references on these subjects that a non-specialist--as I must admit I am
at this beginning point--might miss.


Thanks very much.