Who painted A Turkish man, seated, smoking a pipe?

A Turkish man, seated, smoking a pipe was painted by William Page in 1818.

Where can I see A Turkish man, seated, smoking a pipe?

A Turkish man, seated, smoking a pipe is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is A Turkish man, seated, smoking a pipe?

A Turkish man, seated, smoking a pipe is associated with American Folk Art.

Artwork

A Turkish man, seated, smoking a pipe

William Page , 1818

A Turkish man, seated, smoking a pipe is a watercolor work on paper by the American Folk Art artist William Page. It dates from 1818 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The watercolor, dated circa 1818, portrays a Turkish figure seated on a raised platform in an open landscape.

About this work

Overview

The watercolor, dated circa 1818, portrays a Turkish figure seated on a raised platform in an open landscape. He is dressed in a green robe and a striped red‑and‑white turban, holding a long pipe from which smoke curls upward. At his feet lie a pair of red shoes on a white cloth, while trees and a distant water body frame the tranquil scene under a light, cloud‑dotted sky.

Subject & Meaning

The work functions as a costume study, capturing the attire and demeanor of a Turkish individual in a moment of repose. The inclusion of the pipe and the relaxed posture suggest a casual, perhaps contemplative, pause, while the surrounding natural setting emphasizes a harmonious relationship between the figure and his environment, typical of early 19th‑century ethnographic interests.

Technique & Style

Executed in watercolor, the drawing demonstrates meticulous line work and careful modulation of washes to render fabric texture, facial features, and atmospheric effects. The artist’s early approach favors precise figural representation, employing fine brushstrokes to delineate the turban’s pattern and the smoke’s translucency, contrasting with his later, more landscape‑oriented, picturesque style.

History & Provenance

The piece is attributed to William Page, an English artist active in the early 1800s. It formed part of a series of costume studies likely drawn from direct observation rather than copied sources. The drawing entered a private collection that was acquired by the antiquarian bookseller Maggs in June 1967, where it remains documented.