Jean Baptiste Vanmour was a painter who came to İstanbul in 1699 in the suite of the French Ambassador only at the age of 18 and did not leave the city until his death in 1737. During his life in İstanbul, he made hundreds of paintings which show the panorama of 18th century İstanbul during a period historians call the Tulip Age. The name of the period derives from the tulip craze among the Ottoman elite. This was an exceptional period of peace, prosperity and pleasure.
An old Ottoman miniature showing the carefree spirit of the tulip age
In 1725 Vanmour received the unique office of ‘special painter of the King in the Orient’. The Dutch ambassador, Cornelis Calkoen, paid Vanmour the honour of including him in the small number of people permitted into the Divan and the throne room in the Topkapi Palace where he presented his credentials to the Sultan.
Throne room of the Topkapı Palace
Vanmour created a rich visual history of the tulip era in the Ottoman Empire with its people, costumes, rituals, embassies, sceneries and political uprisings.
Have a glimpse at this talented artist’s paintings to be transported to an era of abundance, peace and pleasure during the ‘tulip age’.
Living Room of a Distinguished Turkish Woman
Dervishes Sharing a Meal
Fete Champetre with Turkish Courtiers under a Tent
Greek Men and Women Dancing in Khora
Party of Armenians Playing a Card
New Arrival in the Harem
The First Day at School
Rijks Museum has a rich collection of his paintings who bring people in the Ottoman Empire to life!
Let me end with a final note. Similar to the end of many beautiful things in life, the tulip age ended rather tragically with a bloody uprising that dethroned the Sultan and killed the Grand Vizier and it was again Vanmour who recorded the end of a beautiful era!
Patrona Halil who was the leader of rebels who dethroned the Sultan and killed the Grand Vizier was painted by Vanmour
