The Beautiful Greek

The Beautiful Greek reclines in an exotic setting in this 1732 painting at the Wallace Collection, one of Lancret's most celebrated works. The subject, evoking both classical and contemporary exoticism, connects to the eighteenth-century fascination with the Ottoman world that also inspired turqueries in architecture, costume, and literature. The Wallace Collection's outstanding French eighteenth-century holdings provide ideal context for this major Lancret work.

The reclining figure creates a languid composition that Lancret renders with the sensuous refinement appropriate to the exotic subject. The costume and setting evoke Ottoman luxury through rich fabrics and decorative accessories. Lancret's palette is particularly warm and rich, with the reds and golds of the exotic setting creating chromatic opulence.