Habit of Selim in the Tragedy of Barbarossa

by Thomas Jefferys

Thomas Jefferys, a distinguished geographer and engraver to King George III, presents an elegant copperplate engraving of this period, which is an authentic illustration of theatrical aesthetics in the Georgian Era. The engraving portrays Selim, the main character of the drama Barbarossa written by John Brown in 1754.

The "Eastern" profile captured by Jefferys is typical of the taste and interests of the time, when the British were intrigued with the glory and pomp of the Ottomans. While the attire may have been inspired by ethnic traditions, it was usually dictated by Western imagination and fashion trends.