Sultan Soliman II

What it is

This is an oil painting from 1558, made by a follower of the Venetian painter Paolo Veronese, now held by the Bavarian State Painting Collections. It shows a bearded older man in profile, wearing a large white turban with gold plumes and an ornate embroidered robe, labelled with an inscription identifying him as the sultan.

Why it matters

Painted during Suleiman's own lifetime, this portrait shows how his image was imagined and reproduced in European courts, even by artists who likely never saw him in person. It reflects the fascination and anxiety European states felt toward the Ottoman Empire at the height of its power.

Look closer

• What details in the clothing and pose suggest how the painter wanted viewers to see this ruler?
• Since the artist probably never met Suleiman, where might the painter have gotten ideas for his appearance?
• Why might a European court want a portrait of a foreign ruler who was often seen as a rival or threat?