Name of Object:

View of Istanbul

Location:

Istanbul, Türkiye

Holding Institution:

Pera Museum

 About Pera Museum, Istanbul

Date of Object:

Second half of the 19th century

Author:

Felix Ziem  (1821-1911)

Material(s) / Technique(s):

Oil on canvas

Dimensions:

W: 1130 + H: 690 cm

Description:

This particular Istanbul painting by Felix Ziem reveals the picturesque aspect of life at sea against the backdrop of the city’s silhouette. The composition of the sailboats and marines in the foreground is balanced by the cityscape with a monumental mosque structure in the background. The artist’s use of vibrant colours and his efforts to capture the shimmering effects of the constant change of light with a fast, dynamic brush stroke technique dominate the painting. This style has led Ziem to be compared with impressionist painters, and even to be regarded as an artist who foreshadowed the emergence of impressionism with his work. The use of brilliant sunlight, which is considered as the major contribution of orientalist painting to European art is evident in the city's cap in the background.

Archival or Bibliographical Reference:

Orientalist Paintings Collection-Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation Collection

Citation of this web page:

"View of Istanbul" in "Sharing History", Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://sharinghistory.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;AWE;tr;38;en

Copyedited by: Daniel de la VegaDaniel de la Vega

Daniel de la Vega is a copy editor based in Portland, Oregon. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in linguistics from the University of California at Santa Cruz in 2014 and has since done editing and localization work on everything from college applications to magazines to video game dialogue.

MWNF Working Number: TR2 034