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Turkoman of Bokhara

Frederick Christian Lewis

1836

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Romanticism Early 19th Century Portrait

Dominant colour

Turkoman of Bokhara is a 1836 watercolor by Frederick Christian Lewis, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Frederick Christian Lewis
When & what style?: 1836 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This sketch shows a man with a big, fluffy hat and a long beard. His face is mostly dark, but the hat and collar glow in warm yellows. The background is plain and light, almost like paper. The brushstrokes are loose, with some smudges and quick lines. The name "Turkoman of Bokhara" is written in the corner, hinting this might be from a distant place. The style feels fast and sketchy, like the artist worked quickly. Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more works like this.

The story of this work

Overview

A watercolour drawing titled *Turkoman of Bokhara* was executed by Frederick Christian Lewis the Elder in 1836. The work was created during Lewis's journey to Tehran, facilitated by Sir John McNeill, which passed through Trebizond, Erzurum, and Tabriz alongside Robert Macdonald. The artist’s travels and related works are documented in the *Illustrated London News* and Macdonald’s *Personal Narrative of Military Travel and Adventure in Turkey and Persia*. The watercolour was later sold at Christie’s in 1980 for £110.

Read the full account in the museum source.