Lot 1534 Dα

The Venetian and Ottoman Empires had been trading partners since as early as the 15th century: Renaissance Venice had a particular interest in representations of the Ottoman Empire in painting and prints. Already in the 15th century, Venetian painters - such as Agostino Veneziano and Gentile Bellini - received portrait commissions from Ottoman sultans, and accurate representations of the Ottoman countries were created by Bellini and Vittore Carpaccio, among others.
Wealthy Ottomans and Venetians alike collected the exotic wares of their trading partners, and their arts influenced one another. The penchant for imitating aspects of Ottoman art and culture spread throughout the European upper classes, who began to collect luxury goods and enjoyed having their portraits painted in Turkish costumes. This fashion was especially prevalent in the 18th century, as seen, for example, in the works of artists such as Jean-Baptiste Vanmour, Joseph-Marie Vien and Jean-Étienne Liotard.
This portrait of a young lady in Turkish costume can be seen as an elegant example of the Turquerie trend and testifies to the continuing interest in this fashion in Venice throughout the 17th and 18th century.