Bashi Bazouk
Date: 1878
Dimensions: Engraving, Height: 23.67 cm ( 9 5/16 in.) Width: 17.94 cm ( 7 1/16 in.) Oil on canvas: unknown
Medium: Wood engraving & stipple on cream paper Painting – oil on canvas
Owner/Location:
Engraving: John S. Phillips Collection, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.
Oil: Private Owner
Description
Millet painted two Bashi paintings, both used his faithful servant Paolo as the model. The largest is commonly titled, The Turkish Soldier, and is shown in the Gallery as such.
Originally describing the homeless beggars who reached Istanbul from the provinces of the Ottoman Empire, the term bashi-bazouk was later applied to all Muslim subjects who were not members of the armed forces. Finally it was applied to units of irregular volunteers (both infantry and cavalry) attached to the army but under independent officers and providing their own weapons and horses. These forces became notorious for their lawlessness. They appeared at the end of the 18th century and fought in Egypt against Napoleon. During the Crimean War the allied generals made fruitless attempts to discipline them. Their excesses during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78 at last forced the Ottoman government to abandon their use.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/bashi-bazouk
This painting and wood engraving is simply titled Bashi Bazouk. The engraving was exhibited at the Royal Academy, London in 1879, with the following credits: Text Appearing Before Image:
Engraved by Henry Marsh. — Drawn by John La Faroe. From Songs of the Old Dramatists. Published by Hurd & Houghton.
Text Appearing After Image:
A BASHI-BAZOUK. DRAWN BY F. D. MILLET, ROYAL ACADEMY, 1879. — NATIONAL ACADEMY OF DESIGN, 1S80.(REPRODUCED FROM THE LONDON GRAPHIC.) AMERICAN ART 5i9
Exhibitions / Provenance
Exhibitions:
1879, “The Bashi Bazouk” was exhibited at the Royal Academy, London, England
1880, National Academy in New York in 1880. It was purchased by John Jacob Astor, the American billionaire.
Provenance:
Engraving: Royal Academy, London in 1879, with the following credits: Text Appearing Before Image: Engraved by Henry Marsh. — Drawn by John La Faroe. From Songs of the Old Dramatists. Published by Hurd & Houghton.
Text Appearing After Image:
A BASHI-BAZOUK. DRAWN BY F. D. MILLET, ROYAL ACADEMY, 1879. — NATIONAL ACADEMY OF DESIGN, 1S80.(REPRODUCED FROM THE LONDON GRAPHIC.) AMERICAN ART 5i9
Engraving: John S. Phillips Collection, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.
Oil: John Jacob Astor purchase 1879
Private Owner
Research / Publications
Research:
Publications: