Ambassadors and Painters

One of the subjects most commonly painted by European artists employed in diplomatic circles was audience ceremonies at the Ottoman palace. According to traditional Ottoman protocol these ceremonies always took place on the day when the janissaries were paid their quarterly salaries. The ambassador and his retinue would ride to the palace in the morning and enter accompanied by their janissary escort. When they had passed through the Bâb-ı Hümâyûn (the outer-most gate of the Palace), crossed the first court and arrived at the Bâbü's-selam (the Gate of Salutation), they would dismount from their horses and ungird their swords before entering. Here they would watch the distribution of food to the janissaries, an occasion known as çanak yağması (the sacking of the bowls). Then the delegation would be admitted to a chamber next to the Dîvân-ı Hümâyûn (Council Champer), where a banquet was prepared, the grand vizier acting as host. When the meal was over, they would watch the session of the Dîvân, and then the ambassador would be garbed in a ceremonial caftan known as hilat. Carrying their gifts, the ambassador and his companions would pass through the Bâbü's-saade (the Gate of Felicity) into the third court, where the Throne Room was situated. After courtesies had been exchanged the ambassador would give his credentials to the interpreter to be passed from hand to hand among the Ottoman officials and finally be laid beside the sultan on his throne by the grand vizier. The grand vizier would answer the ambassador on behalf of the sultan, and the ceremony would draw to an end.

Ottoman embassies sent to the capitals of Europe in the 18th century, when diplomatic relations with Europe expanded, left significant marks on those countries. Audience ceremonies for Ottoman ambassadors were depicted by European artists. Among the most striking examples are paintings by Swedish artists of the audiences given to Kozbekçi Mustafa Ağa sent as ambassador to King Frederick I of Sweden in 1727 to claim repayment of debts incurred by King Charles XII of Sweden, who had taken refuge in Ottoman Turkey after his defeat at the hands of the Russians in 1709; and to Mehmed Said Efendi who was sent for the same purpose in 1733.