ISTANBUL, CIRCA 1820

The album is almost entirely comprised of figural studies, with a singular exception in the form of a depiction of the dressed coffin of an official. As a group, these illustrations provide an interesting insight into Ottoman costumes and styles both within Turkey and the wider empire. A number of official and military positions are illustrated, including different ranks of Janissery and court advisor. Women's dress both Ottoman and Western are seen, such as the example seen here of a lady wearing the Directoire style of the early 19th Century, whose brightly patterned outfit is more typical of Ottoman tastes than it is of the style's French origins. The elaborate hats and accessories that denote the wearer's position within society are also emphasised, such as the grand hat of the figure titled 'venditore.