Mrs. George Baldwin (Jane Maltass, 1763–1839) 1782 - 1792

Painted by Joshua Reynolds, this portrait captures Mrs. George Baldwin in a style evoking the exotic allure of the Ottoman Empire. Her turban, adorned with roses, anchors our gaze, a headdress that speaks of both fashion and fantasy. The turban, historically a symbol of the East, appears here softened, Westernized. Yet, the gesture of veiling, of concealing and revealing, echoes through centuries. We see it in ancient Roman drapery and Renaissance depictions of biblical figures, each instance carrying a weight of cultural and psychological significance. This act of partial concealment taps into our deep-seated fascination with the unknown, the mysterious. Ultimately, the turban in Reynolds's portrait becomes more than mere fashion, it’s a signifier of cultural exchange, charged with the emotional and psychological undercurrents of its own ever-evolving history.