Ottoman Prince

The young man depicted in this oval shaped painting, thought to be part of a series of portraits, is in front of a dark background and is wearing a kaftan of floral design with a fur collar, while his head is covered with a large turban. The upper part of the turban is decorated with a brooch with a gem and chains hanging from it. An earring with a gem is also noticeable on his ear.

This painting reflects the tradition of late 17th century bust portraiture. Until 1988, it was part of the collection of the Blacque family, together with another painting which we know was of the same series from its dimensions, shape, and the fact that it is also a bust portrait. Among the ancestors of this family, Edward Blacque Paşa and Edmund Raoul Blacque occupied various positions in the Ottoman state during the 19th century.