Wedding procession on the Bosphorus c. 1720 - 1737

Jean Baptiste Vanmour made this painting of a wedding procession on the Bosphorus with oils. Vanmour's painting offers a window into the Ottoman Empire of the early 18th century, seen through the eyes of a European artist who had close contact with the Ottoman court. The image invites us to consider the cultural exchange between Europe and the Ottoman world, the dynamics of representation, and the fascination with exoticism that characterized much of European art of this period. Vanmour's attention to detail, particularly in the costumes and the depiction of the landscape, speaks to an emerging European interest in ethnographic accuracy. However, the painting is also a product of its time, reflecting the Orientalist attitudes of the West. To fully appreciate Vanmour's work, we need to consider its place in the history of cultural exchange and representation, drawing on a range of sources, from travel literature to diplomatic archives, to uncover the complex relationships between artist, subject, and audience.