Portrait of a Lady à la Turque

Portrait of a Lady à la Turque – Paintings

An evocative late Georgian portrait depicting a lady dressed à la Turque, this fine oil painting reflects the fascination of English portraiture with exotic themes c.1790. Rendered with careful attention to costume and decorative detail, it is a striking example of Regency period taste, now conserved and presented in its original carved and giltwood frame.

Origin: England

Date: Circa 1790

Material: Oil on canvas, carved and giltwood frame

Dimensions: 103 cm (40.5 inches) high; 85.2 cm (33.5 inches) wide
Sight size: 77.5 cm (30.5 inches) high; 59.7 cm (23.5 inches) wide

Condition: Retaining original gilding; recently and carefully conserved

Portraits of the period reveal the English elite’s enthusiasm for Turkish influences during the late eighteenth century, especially in the aftermath of the 1780s. This work is an excellent illustration of how Middle Eastern motifs permeated not only fine furnishings but also fashion, as evident in the sitter’s robe à la Turque and elaborate turban – attire which signified sophistication and cosmopolitan taste. Comparable examples reside in leading collections, charting the fusion of Orientalism within British art of the Regency era.

Notable Features:

• Expertly painted with crisp drapery and a softly modelled likeness, the subject holds a Greek flask, referencing the cross-cultural aesthetic cherished by the upper classes
• The original carved and giltwood frame boasts fine floral ornamentation, its patina contributing depth and authenticity to the display
• The sitter’s ornate headwear and richly patterned sash highlight the Neoclassical influence and the period’s distinctive attention to luxury and imaginative styling
• This English portrait is not only scarce in both its subject and survival, but boasts a highly desirable form and scale for collectors of Regency paintings

As a focal piece, this painting would be well suited for display within a refined interior or addition to a distinguished portrait collection. Its harmonious blend of Georgian elegance and Oriental inspiration makes it both a decorative and historically relevant acquisition, encapsulating the allure of English portraiture from this seminal era.