Omar Pacha (1806–71) was the commander of the Ottoman army at the beginning of the war, when the Russian incursions into the Balkan regions began. He was later to win a significant victory against the Russians at the Battle of Evpatoria on 17 February 1855 in the Crimea. Omar Pacha was photographed several times by Fenton, both seated and on horseback (see next photograph). A number of commanding officers were photographed in this way. It was probably to give the artist Thomas Barker a variety of poses which could be incorporated into his painting. Omar Pacha does appear on a horse in the final painting, but his head is a copy of this seated portrait.