Turkish sultans, sultanas and other historical figures

1580

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Dominant colour

Turkish sultans, sultanas and other historical figures is a 1580 by Dominicus Custos, a Renaissance work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Dominicus Custos
When & what style?: 1580 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This is a black-and-white portrait of a man in fancy clothes. He’s wearing a tall, feathered hat and a long robe covered in swirling patterns. His beard is thick, and he holds a curved staff in one hand. The background is plain, but there’s a crescent moon symbol in the top left corner. The title at the top reads *"Der Türckische Keyser"* (German for "The Turkish Emperor"). The text below names him as *"Sultan Mahumet II"* and notes he entered a city in 1458. Next, look up Renaissance to see how this style shaped European art.

The story of this work

Overview

The print by Dominicus Custos from 1580 features Mehmed II alongside other Turkish sultans, sultanas, and historical figures, with the title and Mehmed II identified in the inscription.

Read the full account in the museum source.