German artist Albrecht Dürer, creates a 10.2 X 7.3 cm engraving of two people with draped clothing. Created in 1496, the piece is appropriately named “The Turkish Family” , the woman holding a child practically mirroring the famed Madonna painting (featured on the right). Interestingly the women in The Turkish Family, appears to be exposed, she also has a strikingly similar face that appears European. With her feet exposed as well as her top, it could be an indication that European artists saw Arab cultures to be uncivilized compared to their posh culture. As European culture at the time was more modest following Christian traditions. Seeing as it is also a German artist who created this engraving and we do not know the source of inspiration, one can assume it is a biased perspective. 

      The oriental garments of an Arab culture are worn by both of the individuals, these garments are also featured in the oil portrait of Mehmed the Conqueror, as well as the physical robe (Banyan) both featured below. The oil painting of Mehmed the Conqueror, is of an ottoman emperor, featuring a similar head garment as the previous engraving. Decorative engraves paint the painting (as below), strikingly similar to those of Arab metalworks, similar floral designs and golden gems intertwined. The side profile visually looks sharp, and just as the engraving of the Turkish family, piece both men look strikingly similar in appearance. While these all look similar, they’re all stereotypical depictions of middle eastern cultures at the time.

       All of which were created in Europe by different artists such as Albrecht Dürer, Gentile Bellini, and an unknown British textile artist. All of whom, most likely we can assume never actually have entered tany Arab territory, instead using second hand sources or other European based depictions. I make this assumption, based on how all the people depicted appear to be paler skinned, have longer noses, bare footed or have some sort of “exotic” notion to them.  The robes themselves are somewhat simple, but a fashion recreated in England to recreate garments popularized by the Ottoman Empire. Europeans have done this with other cultural garments as well, some such examples being silk kimono dressings. Seen as a luxurious bathrobe made popular across Europe with its complex patterns, despite the fact this Banyan is not the same exotic style as a Kimono. 

      There still remains that interest in the “oriental” for wealthy western collectors. Knowing how trade was common among plenty of territories in this period, plenty of merchants or artists in the west tried to replicate it for cheaper. These artists would most likely have never stepped foot into Islamic territories, rather they most likely got their resources from retellings, letters, documents or other artistic material. Perhaps they were tasked with even make the Islamic world appear more savage and uncivil, I could see this as a possibility as unfortunately appropriation comes with the rise of misunderstanding or fear of the unknown. I would argue all of these are perfect examples of  Turquerie pieces, as they’re all stereotypes of islamic depictions by Europeans in Europe.