Description:

Lot 60. A Large Portrait of Kara Mustafa Pasha, Oil on Canvas, Central Europe, 17th Century

This evocative portrait of Kara Mustafa Pasha, the Ottoman Grand Vizier who led the siege of Vienna in 1683, exemplifies the 17th-century European fascination with Ottoman figures of power. The sitter is depicted in three-quarter length, richly dressed in a fur-lined kaftan of gold brocade, his hand raised pensively to his cheek. The painting’s warm tones, softly modelled face, and expressive gaze convey both gravitas and melancholy, reflecting the dramatic fate of the commander whose defeat marked a turning point in Ottoman-European history.

The work bears a German inscription, “Was trauerst du sehr, Gott in dein Herz” (“Why do you grieve so deeply, God is in your heart”), adding a moralizing and introspective dimension to the portrait. The composition and manner suggest production in Central Europe, where depictions of Ottoman dignitaries—often based on diplomatic encounters or imagination—were popular among nobility and scholars fascinated by the “Turquerie” aesthetic.

This painting, once held in a Polish castle formerly owned by King John III Sobieski, the hero of the second siege of Vienna, carries profound historical resonance. It embodies both the political theatre of the Ottoman–European encounter and the Baroque interest in character and fate, offering a compelling testament to the complex cultural exchanges of the 17th century.



Provenance: acquired from a Polish castle formerly owned by John Sobieski, Former King of Poland, the hero of the second siege of Vienna.

It bears the inscription at the top right: "Was trauerst du sehr, Gott in dein Herz" which means: "In whom do you have the most faith, God is in your heart".

Length x Width: 102.5 x 68cm

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November 4, 2025 1:00 PM GMT
London, United Kingdom

PLAKAS

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