The above paintings are of Turkish Bashi-Bazouk soldiers. These men were were maintained and armed by the government and were known for being quite brutal and lacking discipline – they sort of strike me as a type of Turkish pirate. I happen to find these paintings by Jean-Léon Gérôme and Charles Bargue quite beautiful and am particularly drawn to the Bashi-Bazouk’s way of dress in their layering of colors and fabrics.

1) “A Bashi-Bazouk,” by Jean-Léon Gérôme
2) “Seated Bashi-Bazouk,” by Charles Bargue
3) “A Bashi-Bazouk,” by Charles Bargue
4) “A Bashi-Bazouk and His Dog,” by Jean-Léon Gérôme
5) “Bashi-Bazouk Chieftain” by Jean-Léon Gérôme

Filed under: Blog, Textiles, Vintage, Wearables