Artwork
Portrait of Jean-Étienne Liotard at approximately 54 years of age (Self Portrait in Turkish Costume)
Portrait of Jean-Étienne Liotard at approximately 54 years of age (Self Portrait in Turkish Costume) is an oil painting. It dates from 1788 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. This oil painting presents a mature man, likely the artist himself, rendered in a Turkish-inspired outfit.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The turban, fur-trimmed robe, and pipe signal both the artist’s self-fashioning and the vogue for "Turquerie" in mid-eighteenth-century art.
The subject of the painting is the Swiss pastellist and portraitist Jean-Étienne Liotard, depicted at about 54 years of age. Liotard is shown wearing a Turkish costume, a choice of attire that reflects his documented fascination with Ottoman dress and culture during his travels in the Levant and his broader engagement with exoticism in European portraiture of the period.
The turban, fur-trimmed robe, and pipe signal both the artist’s self-fashioning and the vogue for "Turquerie" in mid-eighteenth-century art. By representing himself in such attire, Liotard asserts his cosmopolitan identity and underscores his role as a recorder of global customs, aligning the work with Enlightenment-era curiosity about non-European cultures.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting executed on a canvas support. Created in 1776, the piece measures 24 cm in height and 20 cm in width. Classified as a portrait and self-portrait, the anonymous artist depicts Jean-Étienne Liotard in Turkish costume. The painting is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
History & Provenance
Painted in 1776, this self-portrait depicts Jean-Étienne Liotard at approximately 54 years of age, dressed in Turkish costume. The work is executed in oil paint on canvas, measuring 24 by 20 cm. It is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
Overview
This oil painting presents a mature man, likely the artist himself, rendered in a Turkish-inspired outfit. He appears to be in his mid‑fifties, distinguished by a long white beard and curly hair. The figure is set against a muted brown backdrop, his gaze directed forward, conveying a calm, introspective presence.
Context
During the mid‑18th century, European artists often adopted Orientalist motifs to signal worldly experience. Liotard’s self‑portrait in Turkish costume aligns with this trend, illustrating both his personal encounters with Ottoman society and the broader European appetite for exotic visual references.
Artist & collection
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