Portrait of a sultan
1850
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This painting shows a man in a round frame, wearing a tall white hat with a feather and a fancy blue robe. His beard is thick, and he has a fur-lined collar. The background is plain and dark, so the colors of his clothes stand out. Notice how the light seems to hit his face and clothes, making them look three-dimensional. The artist used smooth brushstrokes to blend shadows and highlights. Next, look up *chiaroscuro* to see how this lighting trick works in other art.
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