David Wilkie noted in his journal for 27 January 1841 that he made two drawings of Abram Incab Messir at Smyrna. (see A. Cunningham, op.cit.). The present drawing is probably the version Wilkie made for the sitter, the other drawing (Wadsworth Athenaeum) differs in colouring to ours and was retained by Wilkie and subsequently engraved by Joseph Nash.

We are grateful to Professor Hamish Miles for his help in preparing this catalogue entry.