Charles Wise, Turkish Child Prisoner
Artistcircle of
Sir Godfrey Kneller
(British, 1646 – 1723)
Dateca. 1688
CultureBritish
MediumOil on canvas
ClassificationPaintings
Credit LineBequest of John Ringling, 1936
Object numberSN399
This portrait is one of a pair in the Ringling collection, long misidentified, portraying two Turkish children, probably brothers, taken prisoner during the Siege of Belgrade in 1688. The boys were brought to England by the first Duke of St. Albans (Charles Beauclerk (1670-1726), an illegitimate son of King Charles II), who served in the Imperial army of Maximilian II Emanuel against the Turks. They remained in the duke’s custody until reaching adulthood, at which time they were offered the option of staying in England or returning home. The brother given the name Charles Wise, pictured here, remained, while the other, Mustapha, chose to return.
On View
Not on viewCollections
Image: 51 x 40 1/2 in. (129.5 x 102.9 cm)
18th Century
Object/Object