Sadrazam or Grand Vizier

The figure represents the highest civilian authority in the empire, illustrating the political hierarchy of early‑nineteenth‑century Turkey. By portraying the Vizier, the series conveys the diplomatic interest in Ottoman governance and courtly protocol.

Executed in water‑colour with dense, luminous washes, the work blends Ottoman miniature conventions with European linear perspective. The anonymous artist’s handling of light and form reflects a hybrid visual language that merges local tradition with Western representational norms.

The series was commissioned by Stratford Canning, later Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe, during his first posting to Istanbul in 1808‑1809. After Canning’s death, the original drawings passed to his daughter Charlotte and were acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1895.

Canning’s mission involved extensive observation of Ottoman institutions, architecture, and customs. To document his findings, he engaged a local painter—believed by Turkish scholars to be associated with the studio of Konstantin Kapidagli—who produced the extensive visual record for the British diplomatic archive.