Albanian Soldier
1778
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1778
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Albanian Soldier is a 1778 watercolor by Jean-Baptiste Hilaire, a Rococo painting work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
Hilaire made this watercolor in 1778 during travels in Turkey and Greece. It shows an Albanian soldier in fine detail. The coat, cap, and bag are all carefully painted with thin watercolor washes. Hilaire studied under Jean-Baptiste Le Prince. He later worked for the French ambassador in Istanbul. His drawings appeared in a book called Voyage Pittoresque de la Grèce in 1782. Look next at work by the same artist.
Jean-Baptiste Hilaire’s drawing depicts an Albanian soldier in detailed attire, rendered with fine pen and ink and subtle watercolour washes. The figure is shown from behind, wearing an ornate coat, a tasseled cap, embroidered accessories, patterned leggings, and carrying a long çubuk tobacco pipe and a partially visible musket barrel. The composition emphasizes the soldier’s martial identity despite the obscured view of additional weapons like a sword or pistols. The work likely dates to Hilaire’s travels with the Comte de Choiseul-Gouffier in the late 18th century.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Jean-Baptiste Hilaire (1751–1828) was a French painter.
See the richer artist page
