“Tyrkerværk” (The Turkish Publication) of Melcior Lorck (1576)

Melchior Lorck  (1526/27 – after 1583) was a renaissance painter, draughtsman, and printmaker of Danish-German origin. He produced the most thorough visual record of the life and customs of Turkey in the 16th century, to this day a unique source. Read more…

After his assigment in 1556, Lorck spent three and a half years in Istanbul where he drew ancient and modern monuments of the city,  the customs and dresses of the various peoples gathered from all parts of the Ottoman Empire as well as the members of the army.

A selection of his woodcut drawings of Ottoman military figures are given below. You can also view or download the entire book at BnF Gallica or view images at the British Museum.