Roland Belgrave
Through Ottoman Eyes
Istanbul in the second half of the nineteenth century became both training ground and inspiration for the emerging artists of photography, Ottoman and foreign alike. For any European traveller, exotic Istanbul was a first stop on the way to the Orient, and many a fledgling photographer fell under its spell, among them such legends-to-be as James Robertson, Felice and Antonio Beato, Carlo Naya and Tancrède Dumas. All stayed on to hone their photographic skills while exploring the city. “The photographers of Constantinople” is a comprehensive history of photography in the Ottoman empire that gives cosmopolitan Istanbul the prominence it deserves.
14 November 2006