Cæsari in mis omni hora fidelis servivi: The Portraits of Sigismund Herberstein and Walter Leslie in Diplomatic Robes

Abstract

This paper discusses the portraits of two imperial ambassadors to the Ottoman Porte, Sigismund Baron Herberstein, who met with Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in 1541, and Walter Count Leslie, who led the Grand Embassy to Sultan Mehmed IV in 1665–1666. The portraits are discussed in the context of their commissions, focusing on the diplomatic robes and the self-representative intentions of the commissioners. Herberstein’s decision to illustrate his autobiographical works with full body portraits is presented in the context of glorifying poems printed in some prestigious editions of his works, and in the context of the family’s portrait galleries. New light is shed on the painted portraits of Walter Leslie based on documents from the family archives, as well as on engraved portraits of the ambassador illustrating the travelogue of his mission.

Keywords

• Sigismund Herberstein (1486–1566)
• Walter Leslie (1606–1667)
• imperial ambassadors
• portrait
• Donat Hübschmann
• Frans van der Steen