Sultan Ahmed III, Jean Baptiste Vanmour, ca. 1727 - ca. 1730
Under the reign of Ahmed III, Turkish culture flourished. The sultan was fascinated by the tulip, and organized exuberant parties that lasted as long as the tulips blossomed. This period, in which there was a lot of partying and in which there was also a greater openness to Western influences, is known as the tulip era. Vanmour saw Ahmed III several times and could make his facial features realistic.
Discover more Old Masters in the following collections: