Etching and engraving by Nicolas Lancret entitled 'Le Turc Amoureux'. Printed in Paris, 1736.

Etching and engraving entitled 'Le Turc Amoureux' [B.84; another state], from a set of two. Lettered with title, lines of verse, and 'N. Lancret pinxit G.F.Schmidt Sculp. Crepy Ex'. Lettered also 'a Paris chez N de Larmessin graveur du Roy rue des Noyers a la 4e porte cocher a droit entrant par la rue St. Jacques A.P.D.R.'.

Purchased with the assistance of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Art Fund, Shell International and the Friends of the V&A

The figure is said to be a portrait of the actor Lekain, and the original Turc may be a figure on a decoration by Lancret for the hotel of M. de Boullogne, Place Vendome, now in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris. (See London, Wallace Collection, Wallace Collection Catalogues, Pictures and Drawings, 16th edition, 1968, p.168.)
Lancret painted several versions of La Belle Grecque and Le Turc Amoureux. Wildenstein provides an incomplete list of paintings by Lancret representing the two characters, but states that these do not seem to correspond exactly to Schmidt's prints. (See Wildenstein, Lancret, pp.116 17.)
The Wallace Collection catalogue states that Schmidt's La Belle Grecque differs from all extant versions of the picture. (See Wallace Collection catalogues, Pictures and Drawings, p.168.)

SP.344