The paintings depict the procession of the 15 year old Sultan Mehmed IV through Istanbul on 24 September 1657. Claes Ralamb commissioned 20 paintings to immortalise the event. 14 of them are on display here.
In 1657 Claes Ralamb (1622-1698) was sent as the Swedish envoy to Istanbul. He war deputed by Karl X Gustav to discuss the European war situation and negotiate with the Sultan. In all probability, the paintings were painted after Ralamb`s return to Sweden. Their sources included Ralamb`s diaries and the costume album he brought back from Istanbul. The artist is unknown.
TAB I.
No 1 Generalen uthöfwer Infanteriet kallas ianizeraga
2 Chiauzer woro 600 Stück
3 Deras förman kallas chiaus passi
1 Генерал по инфантерии, называемый янычарага.
2 Чау?ей (çavuş) было 600.
3 Оных предводитель, называемый чау?ба?и.
