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Istanbul, looking towards the Suleymaniye Mosque and the Golden Horn, circa 1890. | A sparkling breeze in the late afternoon has the sunlight dancing on the wavetops of the harbour. Clouds cast shadows on the water giving a contrast between the small foreground vessel, in shadow and the larger sailing vessel in the sunlight. A crewman is busy on the yard taking off the gaskets to the topsail, so it can be set.
It is hot and very hazy with the Yeni Valide Mosque, on the left hand side at Eminonu and the larger Suleymaniye Mosque on the hilltop in the middle background, disappearing in the haze. Paddlewheel ferries cross the harbour leaving a trail of smoke and a large square rigger lies at anchor, awaiting a cargo. The wooden Galata Bridge, built in 1875 can be seen, crossing the harbour from Eminonu to Galata, on the right hand side of the painting. Many ferries berthed alongside the bridge, which also contained sea baths.
The typical small trading vessels had a variety of rigs, usually lateen rigged, with sometimes the addition of square sails and often a very long partially unstayed bowsprit ( no bob stay).
| | Dimensions | 30" x 40" | | Media | Oil on canvas |
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