His main task was to look after his country’s trade interests, which focused on fabrics, spices and other luxury goods. Calkoen commissioned the artist Jean Baptiste Vanmour to capture his meeting with Sultan Ahmed III, who is remembered for his love of tulips. But Calkoen didn’t stop at one painting: he asked Vanmour and his assistants to make no fewer than 65 works for him. For the ambassador they were mementos of political and personal events in Istanbul, the city he took to his heart. His last will and testament ensured that this collection has remained together ever since.
Getting started with the collection: