Acrobats, musicians, prestidigitators, and wrestlers

 

116a

 

115b

In (115b) the sultan and grand vizier are watching performances by musicians and singers. A tightrope walker strides across the foreground of the frame as sackers look up and comment. In (116a) two pairs of wrestlers grapple as a large military band thunders out its music. At the bottom just left of center, a prestidigitator kneeling before a mat performs tricks. At the left edge, the day’s contingent of boys headed for the circumcisers enters the frame. The inclusion of the revolving fortress and cannons in the upper left corner is a reminder by the artist that cannons were fired to mark the arrival and departure of the sultan and the times of day throughout the festival.


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