Sir David Wilkie, R.A. (Fife 1785-1841 Malta)

Wilkie travelled to the Near East in the autumn of 1840, crossing Europe and arriving in Constantinople, where he became stranded for several months, due to military unrest in Syria. Whilst there, he became well acquainted with the British expatriates in the city, and he made many watercolour portraits, largely in the Oriental dress which was habitually worn by Europeans living there.

The little girl depicted here is Emily (1837-1916), daughter of Sir Baldwin Wake Walker (1802-1876), British commander of the Ottoman Navy and one of Wilkie's great friends in Constantinople. Known to the Turks as Walker Bey, he had been living there with his family since 1836. Aged three at the time of this portrait, Emily is depicted in the traditional Turkish costume worn by girls and women of all ages: loose 'salvar' trousers, an open overdress, and head dress with veil. Of her father, Wilkie wrote in his journal, 'He is a fine-looking man; becomes the Turkish dress well, and his wife is a most ladylike woman.'

Another version of the present drawing, dated 8 December, was given to the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, by the artist Charles Fairfax Murray (1849-1919).