Portrait of Maria Gunning, Countess of Coventry 1749

Jean-Étienne Liotard, a Swiss artist, made this pastel portrait of Maria Gunning, Countess of Coventry. The Countess is depicted in what was called Turkish Dress. During the 18th century, there was a fashion for what was deemed Turkish dress, and indeed Turkish culture. This coincided with a period of intense trade between Europe and the Ottoman Empire, and a rise in diplomatic exchange. The exoticism associated with Turkey made it an attractive source of cultural capital for aristocrats like Gunning. This portrait then is a document of the phenomenon of “Turquerie”. It shows how cultures become fashionable and how elites like the Countess can adopt them to gain influence. To better understand the image, we might research the history of European trade with Turkey and the rise of cultural trends in aristocratic circles. By looking at the social context we can better appreciate the public role of this artwork.