An important collection of twenty-seven watercolour portraits of the Ottoman Sultans, Turkey, mid-19th century

gouache heightened with gold on paper, mounted in a bespoke perspex frame 

Each page in overall good condition and with some remnants of thumbing marks on the bottom right-hand corners, the edges have some fraying consistent with age and use, all mounted in a perspex frame, as viewed. 1. In good overall condition, slight tear to top right hand corner 2. Small tear to bottom right-hand edge 3. Good condition, very minor ink stain on face 4. Good condition 5. Minor rubbing on turban, small ink stain on border 6. Good condition 7. Some rubbing along left-hand border 8. Good condition 9. Light crease mark near bottom edge, small stain above turban 10. Good condition 11. Good condition, minor crease near border 12. Good condition 13. Good condition 14. Left-hand border with remnants of old book worm damage 15. Good condition, light crease near top 16. Good condition, small surface tear near bottom right-hand corner 17. Good condition, minor light staining near frame 18. Some rubbing along left-hand edge 19. Some very light staining on background 20. Some light stains on background & light crease mark near top edge 21. Some rubbing to bottom 22. Edges with some visible fraying, good condition, light discoloration near bottom 23. Good condition, very light crease running down from top edge 24. Small tear to bottom right-hand corner 25. Good condition 26. Good condition 27. Good condition
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The portraits in the present collection are important examples of Ottoman painting, documenting the transition between the traditional, local miniature painting techniques and imported European painting techniques of the first half of the nineteenth century. In terms of organisation, they follow the artistic features of the Ottoman court painter Konstantin Kapidagli who was celebrated for his mastery in drawing portraits of Ottoman sultans.

The only two comparable series of early nineteenth-century watercolour portraits of Ottoman sultans known to us are found in the Kirac Album and in an imperial scroll in the Topkapi Palace Museum, inv no. H. 1896 (See Padisahın Portresi, Is Bankasi, Istanbul, 2000, p.503-4).

The sultans depicted in the present collection are as follows:

-          Sultan Osman (r.1281-1324)
-          Sultan Orhan (r.1324-60)
-          Sultan Murad I (r.1362-89)
-          Sultan Bayazid I (r.1389-1403)
-          Sultan Chelebi Mehmed (r.1413-21)
-          Sultan Murad II (r.1421-44)
-          Sultan Mehmed II, 'the Conqueror' (r.1444-81)
-          Sultan Bayazid II (r.1481-1512)
-          Sultan Selim I (r.1512-20)
-          Sultan Suleyman I (r.1520-66)
-          Sultan Selim II (r.1566-74)
-          Sultan Murad III (r.1574-95)
-          Sultan Mehmed III (r.1595-1603)
-          Sultan Mustafa I (r.1617-18)
-          Sultan Murad IV (r.1622-40)
-          Sultan Ibrahim (r.1640-48)
-          Sultan Mehmed IV (r.1648-87)
-          Sultan Ahmed III (r.1703-30)
-          Sultan Mahmud I (r.1730-54)
-          Sultan Osman III (r.1754-57)
-          Sultan Mustafa III (r.1757-74)
-          Sultan Abdulhamid I (r.1774-89)
-          Sultan Selim III (r.1789-1807)
-          Sultan Mustafa IV (r.1807-08)
-          Sultan Mahmud II (r.1808-39)
-          Sultan Mahmud II (r.1808-39)
-          Sultan Abdulmecid (r.1839-61)

Every sultan has been depicted with his certain characteristic feature; the extremely pious Bayazid II with a saintly beard, Mehmed the Conqueror with his sword, Selim the Grim with his mace, warlord Murad IV with his weapons, the bibliophile mawlawi Mustafa I with mawlawi headgear, holding a book. In the last eight portraits the sultans have been depicted resting on the Imperial Throne (the throne of Ahmed I) and the ceremonial Golden Throne (bayram tahti). Each sultan is depicted in his best-known appearance, wearing a kaftan and his characteristic headgear, adorned with bejewelled ornaments.  

Sultan Mahmud II, who introduced the fez to the Ottoman dressing code, has been depicted twice. In the first portrait, he appears in traditional costume, wearing a turban. In the second, however, he is depicted wearing a fez. Unlike the better-known, smaller portrait series of the second half of the nineteenth century which feature depictions of the sultans in round frames, the present series feature large, rectangular compositions.