AN OVAL PORTRAIT MINIATURE OF THE OTTOMAN SULTAN SULEYMAN II (1642 - 1691)
Possibly France or Netherlands, 18th - 19th century

Opaque oil pigments on copper, of oval shape, the Ottoman Sultan portrayed in three-quarter view, wearing a bright red military jacket and an elaborate red and white turban decorated with a large diamond-studded aigrette with black heron's feathers, set within an oval copper frame engraved in the back with the inscription Sulimann II, 10.5cm high.

Most Ottoman Turkish paintings of Sultan Suleyman II portray him as a strong, sturdy and plump man. On the other hand, it seems that Western painters and engravers were more focused on the faithful rendering of his attire and facial hair. This is particularly evident in several 17th-century engravings in the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek's collection (inv. nos. PORT_00034071_01 and PORT_00034069_01) and in a 17th-century mezzotint print by the Dutch painter Wallerant Vaillant (1623 - 1677) at the Fitzwilliam Museum (inv. no. 2554830). These engravings share a number of features with our miniature, such as the military coat, the elaborate turban and the thick moustaches, leading to suggest a likely French or Dutch inspiration for its composition.

Please login or create an account to view/request condition reports