| Abstrakt: |
A painting, which could be attributed to August Querfurt, a battle painter active in Vienna in the 18th century, offers an accurate representation of some of the Sultan's bombers in front of his camp. Why does a painter of the imperial court focus his attention on an Ottoman army corps that has recently defeated the generals of Charles VI? The choice of the unusual subject suggests that the painting 'alludes' to the Count of Bonneval, a famous French soldier, converted to Islam, who was responsible for the reorganization and success of the Turkish bombers and weapons corps. A controversial figure, Bonneval then exerted a 'forbidden' fascination on the members of the European elites who were, at the same time, attracted and rejected by the courage, refinement and independence of this noble 'libertine'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
