A portrait of Roxelana, Italy, 19th century

The present painting, in its original, ornate carved wood frame, depicts Roxelana, also known as Hurrem Sultan, the favoured consort and later wife of Ottoman Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent (r.1520-66). One of the most powerful and influential women in Ottoman history, she played a significant role during the era known as the Ladies’ Sultanate. Roxelana rose from harem slave to the position of 'queen of the Ottoman Empire', becoming Suleyman's main consort and influencing the politics of the empire. She bore six children with the Sultan, and her joyful spirit earned her the name Hurrem, meaning "the cheerful one." Her unprecedented rise attracted jealousy within the harem and the general populace, as she was allowed to give birth to more than one son thus violating a long-standing harem tradition.

In 1533, Suleyman married Hurrem in a grand ceremony, making him the first Ottoman Sultan in 200 years to wed a concubine and elevating her status to that of a lawful spouse. She eventually moved to the Topkapi Palace after a fire destroyed the old harem, marking her permanent residence there. Roxelana died on 15 April 1558, and was buried in a domed mausoleum adorned with Iznik tiles depicting the gardens of paradise, symbolising her joyful nature. Her mausoleum is located next to Suleyman's more solemn resting place in the courtyard of the Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul.

The present painting follows a famous portrait of Roxelana in the Uffizi, Florence, associated with the famous Venetian painter Titian (See Julian Raby, 'Mistaken Identities', Cornucopia, No.63, 2021, pp.8-14).