A Mamluk from Aleppo
1820
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1820
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
You see a man in traditional clothing, likely from the Middle East. He's dressed in robes and a turban, with a sword at his side. This painting is interesting because it shows a Mamluk, a group of former slaves who became powerful rulers in Egypt. The Mamluks had a complex history, rising from slavery to govern Egypt. Their story is not well-known in many parts of the world. To learn more about the style used to create this watercolour, look into the technique of sfumato.
