Follower of Jean-Baptiste Vanmour

Dr Roger Steinmetz, Geneva;

From whom acquired by the family of the present owner, by 1980.

Jean-Baptiste Vanmour accompanied Charles de Ferriol (1652–1722) to Constantinople when the latter was appointed as the French ambassador in 1692. While there, Vanmour was commissioned to complete one hundred oil paintings depicting the life of local people. These were later made into engravings that circulated across Europe, influencing the style and fashion of the upper classes.¹ Vanmour's depictions of Turkish women became immensely popular and sought-after throughout the 18^th century and many artists later followed his example.

¹ Recueil de cent estampes représentant differentes nations du Levant, gravées sur les tableaux peints d'après nature en 1707 & 1708, par les ordres de M. de Ferriol, ambassadeur du roi a la porte, et mis au jour en 1712 & 1713 par les soins de M. Le Hay, Chez Basan (engraver), Paris 1714.