During Charles XII’s stay in the Ottoman Empire, large loans were raised. In 1727 an embassy arrived in Stockholm from Istanbul, led by Mustafa Aga. Its purpose was to seek repayment and conduct negotiations on diplomatic relations and trade. The court painter Schröder made several portraits of Mustafa Aga and his retinue. This painting is part of a tradition of portraying foreign envoys, and reflects a growing interest in Turkey in the 18th century.