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A black and white print portrays a bust-length view of a man facing to the left.

This black and white print shows the head and upper torso of a man, who facing frontally and looks to the left. He is middle-aged and has a moustache and beard. He wears a shirt decorated with a decorative pattern and closed at his neck with a jeweled pin. A rectangular container covered in gems is tucked into his shirt. He also wears a jacket with a geometric pattern, and a large turban adorned with gems and plumes. There is nothing in the background of the scene, other than the artist’s initials to the right of the man’s turban, and six circles placed at regular intervals along the left and right edges of the scene. Below the image is a tablet containing inscriptions in Arabic and in Latin.

Identification and Creation

Object Number
G4784
People
Melchior Lorck, Danish (Flensburg, Germany 1526 or 1527 - after 1588 Silesia(?))
Title
Ismael, Ambassador to Persia at the court of Sultan Suleiman II
Other Titles
Former Title: Ismael, Persian Ambassador at Constantinople in 1557
Classification
Prints
Work Type
print
Date
1562
Culture
Danish
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/273606

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Engraving on cream antique laid paper
Technique
Engraving
Dimensions
sheet: 40.7 × 28 cm (16 × 11 in.)
Inscriptions and Marks
  • Signed: signed in plate, middle right: MF/L
  • inscription: in plate, bottom: [(pseudo?)-Arabic inscription] VIVA EFFIGIES ILLVST: ISMAELIS, QVEM TECHMAS INVICTISS: PERSARVM REX, ORATOREM REGIIS MVNERIBVS ORNATISS: ANNO CHRISTI 1557. A MAHOMETI AV=/ TEM ORIGINE ANNO 964. CONSTANTINOPOLIN AD SOLDANVM SVLEYMANNVM SELIMI FILIVM, POTENTISS: TVRCARVM IMPERAT: AB=/ LEGAVIT. A MELCHIORE LORICHS FLENSBVRGEN. HOLSATO ANTIQVITATIS STVDIOSISS. DICTO TEMP. IN TVRCIA VERSANTE. GRAPHICE EXPRESSA

State, Edition, Standard Reference Number

State
iii/iv
Standard Reference Number
Bartsch 15, New Hollstein 28

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Gray Collection of Engravings Fund
Object Number
G4784
Division
European and American Art
Contact
am_europeanamerican@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Publication History

  • Stephan Wolohojian and Alvin L. Clark, Jr., Harvard Art Museum/ Handbook, ed. Stephan Wolohojian, Harvard Art Museum (Cambridge, 2008), p. 81, repr.

Exhibition History

Subjects and Contexts

  • Collection Highlights
  • Google Art Project

Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of European and American Art at am_europeanamerican@harvard.edu