View of Constantinople and the Bosphorus. Studios of Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky. In the painting, the artist depicts the romantic sunset of a hot southern day over the bustle of the eastern pier and the majestic buildings and bays of Constantinople. Signed and dated, lower right, Aivazovsky 1856. Canvas, oil. The dimensions of the painting are 35x56 cm.Historical background: Constantinople and Aivazovsky. Aivazovskys romance with Istanbul began in 1845 during the artists geographical expedition led by Fyodor Litke. It was then that Constantinople struck his imagination. The master repeatedly came here, maintained close contact with the Armenian diaspora, collaborated with the drawing school of Constantinople. The artist often painted Istanbul. He was especially attracted to the hours of sunrise and sunset. Times of multifaceted poetry of the city. In 1856, during his second visit to Constantinople, Ivan Aivazovsky was introduced to Sultan Abdul-Mejid I, who, for his artistic talent, awarded the painter with the Order of Nishan Ali, IV degree. A few years later, the new Sultan Abdulaziz, admiring the works of the master, purchased almost everything that Aivazovsky brought with him and ordered ten more paintings with views of Istanbul and the Bosphorus, which eventually turned into 30 paintings set for the Turkish court. As a sign of special respect, the Sultan presented Aivazovsky with the Osmaniye Order, II degree. The artists works were commissioned in large numbers by the Porte and the Turkish nobility. Aivazovskys exhibitions were regularly held in Istanbul. Significant assistance was provided by the drawing school and the artists workshop, which helped to cope with the abundance of orders. Not surprisingly, the Treaty of San Stefano, which marked the end of the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878, was signed in a hall whose walls were decorated with views of Constantinople, painted by Aivazovsky. One of the artists captivating works was View of Constantinople and the Bosporus in 1856.
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