Portrait of Sultan Mehmet II the Conquerer

Dublin Core

Title

Portrait of Sultan Mehmet II the Conquerer

Subject

Painting

Description

Gentile Bellini was an appointed court artist for Sultan Mehmet II from 1479 to 1480, and produced many works of art for the sultan, although many are now lost. This portrait is one of the few surviving works, and depicts the sultan wearing deep red fur-trimmed clothing, surrounded by a jeweled archway. He wears the traditional taj headdress as well. Mehmet II led the Ottoman Turks in the 1453 sacking of Constantinople that effectively ended the Byzantine Empire. Images of this particular sultan therefore evoked ideas of military might and conquest.

Creator

Gentile Bellini

Source

The National Gallery in London

Date

1480

Rights

Public Domain

Type

Still Image

Identifier

NG3099

Still Image Item Type Metadata

Original Format

Oil on Canvas

Physical Dimensions

69.9 x 52.1 cm