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Turkish Gentelman of Constantinople [sic]

Charles Frederick or Carlo Federico Brockdorff

1835

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Orientalism Romanticism Early 19th Century Portrait

Dominant colour

Turkish Gentelman of Constantinople [sic] is a 1835 watercolor by Charles Frederick or Carlo Federico Brockdorff, a Orientalism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Charles Frederick or Carlo Federico Brockdorff
When & what style?: 1835 · Orientalism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This is a watercolor portrait of a man in fancy clothes. He’s wearing a bright blue coat with gold trim and pink lining, a red-and-blue hat, and red shoes. One hand holds a curved pipe, and the other rests on his hip. The background is plain, so all the focus is on him. The title says he’s called a "Turkish Gentleman of Constantinople," but the artist drew him in a simplified, almost stylized way. The colors are bold, and the details on his clothes look hand-painted. If you like this style, check out Romanticism.

The story of this work

Overview

A watercolor by Charles Frederick Brockdorff from 1835 depicts a Turkish gentleman in Constantinople, part of a group of works acquired by W. Spencer in October 1968.

Read the full account in the museum source.