Fake 19th Century Orientalism painted today will still feel fake. Just as "staged" Western American art feels fake.
Just compare Remington with a lot of the idealized, "heroic" Western art being painted retroactively today. While the modern research and detail is unassailable, and the technique impeccable, you can still tell the truly observed, contemporary scenes from the "tricked up" nostalgia nearly every time. But different strokes for different folks.
Sargent's incredible watercolors of foreign scenes in Italy and Africa ring with truth and authenticity precisely because he was painting what was before him, not some idealized scene from his head.
For a look at some really fine painting and observation of foreign locales, check out the art and travel diaries of Scott Burdick and Sue Lyon. They've sent themselves around the world with their art. Some of it is very exotic, but always truthfully observed and immediate in feel.
http://scottburdick.com/avoriginals.htm and
http://scottburdick.com/avorgnlsScott.htm
I don't know, Enzie, for me I think the contemporary Iranian in bluejeans would be a far more interesting and authentic image than some thinly staged 19th century costume drama.
Just my opinion, nothing else.--TE