Mehmet, the vizir kâhyasi

Jean Baptiste Vanmour, c. 1727 - c. 1730

Mehmet was the vizir kâhyasi (lieutenant) of the grand vizier. He indulged in wild excess and luxury. This was one of the reasons why he, along with the grand vizier, was murdered by his subordinates in 1730. When his houses were plundered, great hoards of gold were found hidden in secret cellars.

  • Artwork typepainting
  • Object numberSK-A-2026
  • Dimensionsheight 34.5 cm x width 27.5 cm, weight 1.2 kg
  • Physical characteristicsoil on canvas

Discover more

"Turkije" by Jean Baptiste Vanmour

The First Day of School

Jean Baptiste Vanmour, c. 1720 - c. 1737

The First Day of School

View of Istanbul from the Dutch Embassy at Pera

Jean Baptiste Vanmour, c. 1720 - c. 1737

View of Istanbul from the Dutch Embassy at Pera

Ambassador Cornelis Calkoen at his Audience with Sultan Ahmed III

Jean Baptiste Vanmour, c. 1727 - c. 1730

Ambassador Cornelis Calkoen at his Audience with Sultan Ahmed III

more by Jean Baptiste Vanmour

The First Day of School

Jean Baptiste Vanmour, c. 1720 - c. 1737

The First Day of School

View of Istanbul from the Dutch Embassy at Pera

Jean Baptiste Vanmour, c. 1720 - c. 1737

View of Istanbul from the Dutch Embassy at Pera

Ambassador Cornelis Calkoen at his Audience with Sultan Ahmed III

Jean Baptiste Vanmour, c. 1727 - c. 1730

Ambassador Cornelis Calkoen at his Audience with Sultan Ahmed III

Whirling Dervishes

Jean Baptiste Vanmour, c. 1720 - c. 1737

Whirling Dervishes

Lying-in Room of a Distinguished Turkish Woman

Jean Baptiste Vanmour, c. 1720 - c. 1737

Lying-in Room of a Distinguished Turkish Woman

Turkish Woman at her Embroidery Frame

Jean Baptiste Vanmour, c. 1720 - c. 1737

Turkish Woman at her Embroidery Frame

Identification

  • Title(s)

    Mehmet, the vizir kâhyasi

  • Object type

  • Object number

    SK-A-2026

  • Description

    Het portret van Mehmet, de vizir kâhyasi (lieutenant) van de grootvizier, toont hem gekleed in een groene met bont afgezette kaftan en een bij zijn functie passende tulband. Oorspronkelijk was de vezir kâhyasi de persoonlijke bediende, of major domo, van de grootvizier, een functie die los stond van regeringszaken. De functie ontwikkelde zich in de loop der tijd tot persoonlijke adviseur van de grootvizier en later zelfs tot secretaris van binnenlandse zaken binnen de Keizerlijke Raad.

  • Inscriptions / marks

    inscription: ‘Mehemmet Chiaia’

Creation

  • Creation

    painter: Jean Baptiste Vanmour

  • Dating

    c. 1727 - c. 1730

  • Search further with

Material and technique

  • Physical description

    oil on canvas

  • Dimensions

    • height 34.5 cm x width 27.5 cm
    • weight 1.2 kg

This work is about

  • Subject

  • Place

Exhibitions

Acquisition and rights

Documentation

    • Renate Meijer en Günay Uslu, ‘Op bezoek bij de sultan : in de sporen van Cornelis Calkoen’, Rijksmuseum Kunstkrant 29 (2003) nr. 3, p. 4-7.
    • Mirjam Shatanawi, 'On the In-Betweenness of the Paintings of Jean Baptiste Vanmour (1671–1737) at the Rijksmuseum' in: Susanne Leeb en Nina Samuel (red.), Museums, Transculturality, and the Nation-State, Independent Academic Publishing 2022, p. 123-158.

Persistent URL

Questions?

Do you spot a mistake? Or do you have information about the object? Let us know!