Bearded Man in Oriental Costume
This delicate watercolor of an elderly Arab, which may represent the Tunisian ambassador to the British Court of St. James's, was made about 1780 by Humphrey, a portrait painter and miniaturist. He devoted his attention to the assertive profile and turbaned head of the sitter, rendering the robes and setting more broadly with rapid pen strokes and pale blue, pink, brown, and gray washes.
In the eighteenth century, Tunisia was nominally part of the Ottoman Empire but was ruled in effective independence by the Husseinite beys. As one of the "Barbary States" of North Africa, it patronized pirates who did not hesitate to capture unprotected European vessels in the Mediterranean, seize their cargo, and hold their passengers for ransom. To allay this threat, the British government made annual payments to the bey of Tunis; thus, the latter's ambassador would have been a significant figure in London diplomatic circles.
In the eighteenth century, Tunisia was nominally part of the Ottoman Empire but was ruled in effective independence by the Husseinite beys. As one of the "Barbary States" of North Africa, it patronized pirates who did not hesitate to capture unprotected European vessels in the Mediterranean, seize their cargo, and hold their passengers for ransom. To allay this threat, the British government made annual payments to the bey of Tunis; thus, the latter's ambassador would have been a significant figure in London diplomatic circles.
Artwork Details
- Title: Bearded Man in Oriental Costume
- Artist: Ozias Humphrey (British, Honiton, Devon 1742–1810 London)
- Date: ca. 1780
- Medium: Pen and brown ink and watercolor over graphite
- Dimensions: sheet: 11 3/4 x 8 1/2 in. (29.8 x 21.6 cm)
- Classification: Drawings
- Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1964
- Object Number: 64.49.4
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Ozias Humphrey
1780
George Romney
ca. 1776
Thomas Girtin
1796–97
Gideon Saint
ca. 1760
Giovanni Paolo Panini
ca. 1756–58
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.