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Sultan's Trumpeter

George Francis Lyon

1819

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Romanticism Early 19th Century

Dominant colour

Sultan's Trumpeter is a 1819 watercolor by George Francis Lyon, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: George Francis Lyon
When & what style?: 1819 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This watercolor shows two men standing on a small patch of ground. The man on the left wears a blue robe and a turban, holding a long staff. The man on the right is dressed in white, carrying a red flag and a curved horn. Both are barefoot, and the background is plain and light-colored. The title, "Sultan's Trumpeter," suggests the man on the right might be signaling or announcing something. The simple style and focus on everyday life fit the time period. Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more works like this.

The story of this work

Overview

The watercolour drawing *Sultan's Trumpeter* by George Francis Lyon depicts a musician associated with a North African ruler, created during his participation in a British diplomatic mission to Tripoli and Murzuq in 1819. The work reflects Lyon’s observations during his travels, undertaken after his service in Malta and following the death of the mission’s leader, Mr. Ritchie. The piece later entered the collection of W. Spencer in November 1973.

Read the full account in the museum source.