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After defeating the Byzantines and establishing Istanbul as the new capital of the Ottoman empire, Mehmet II (reigned 1451–81) invited a number of Italian painters, including Gentile Bellini (ca. 1429–1507) and Constanzo da Ferrara (ca. 1450–after 1524), to work at his court. This remarkable portrait is based on a composition attributed to Ferrara, now in the Isabella Gardner Museum in Boston. Notable for its sensitive modeling and fine details, the painting represents one of the earliest portraits of a painter from the Ottoman world. |
Portrait of a painter
Turkey, late 15th century Opaque watercolor and gold on paper 18.8 x 12.7 cm Purchase F1932.28 |
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The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and the Freer Gallery of Art Exhibition List | Online Exhibitions All presented material is copyright © Smithsonian Institution, 2008 except where otherwise noted. |
