An Aga of the Janizaries

Etched and published by Robert Blyth British
After John Hamilton Mortimer British

Not on view

Mortimer's design evokes the dangers and exoticism of the East, with this brooding portrait of a Turkish military leader (Janizaries were members of the sultan's guard who acted as protective escorts for European travelers.) Unconcerned with accurately reproducing his subject's military costume, Mortimer instead concentrated on his deeply shadowed eye, intense gaze, and fierce profile. The freedom of Blyth's etching, especially evident in the expressive line used in the ruff, turban, and background shading, is well matched to Mortimer's inventiveness.

An Aga of the Janizaries, Etched and published by Robert Blyth (British, ca. 1750–1784), Etching with touches of stippling

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.