Information
Beautiful album of oriental drawings, probably made in Izmir [Smyrna], 1855 -about 60, in oblong folio external measures 245 x 355 mm. Consisting of 46 sheets, only 41 of which bear drawings in watercolour, ink and various techniques. The drawings are of various sizes, some glued on the sheets of paper but most of them inserted in pieces in the sheet (photo album model), different dimensions: 23 are smaller, about 135 x 85 mm, often distributed in threes on a page; the majority (more than 30) measure 250 x 170 mm., two reach the sheet size of 345 x 240 mm. about. In total 55 drawings and three engravings. The most common names are those of H. Jackson IN. (dated 1854-'56), of J Ford (1855) and one is signed by < span style="color: var(--bs-card-color); font-size: var(--bs-body-font-size); text-align: var(--bs-body-text-align) ; background-color: hsl(var(--bs-white));">Jean Brindesi. Many do not bear a signature but can easily be attributed to one of the aforementioned authors, for style and technique. The binding has only the upper plate in green cloth, the lower one is missing.
Specialist Notes
Perhaps it was made in Izmir, where it was purchased towards the end of the 19th century from a Italian diplomat. Different designers' signatures alternate, the captions are mainly English but some also Italian. These are the subjects portrayed, where a caption appears:
Preghiera - Marriage… - Turkish Ladies in their walking dress (Jean Brindesi, also Giovanni Brindesi 1826-1888) - Caiquejee [caique carrier] signed H.J.I.N.1854 - A Turkish Mullah (J.Ford Constantinople 1855) - Jewesh – Sultana – Greek Lady - A Mosque at [….] - A turkish scribe [engraving] -A dancing Dervish - Galata Tower - A donkey driver – Constantinople - A native of Aleppo in …of the Grand Sultan's Harem - A Mullah [signed, J Ford 1855] - Head of religion – Persian – Hamal - Seller of Flowers - Turkish Ladies Arabat - Woman of high class - Boy learning the alphabet – Rent dunce – A Sultana [London Published by James Cawthorn 24 Cockspur street 1812 - A Turkish vehicle – A view in the interior – Coptic Scribe – High Class Woman – Egyptian Soldier -A Turkish Caique – The Sultan State Baye – Portefaix Hamal (Lit. B. Tatikian Smyrne) - A Turkish Lady's Indoor Dress – Their walking Costume – Turkish Lady and Child Walking dress.
An exceptional testimony to the fashion of oriental taste, which spread throughout Europe in the first decades of the 19th century. Pfor centuries European populations have been fascinated < /span>from the area around the eastern and southern coast of the Mediterranean, the "Orient" or "Levant". This is largely due to the origins of Christianity and Judaism in the Middle East. In the 17th century, with the increase of trade < span style="background-color: hsl(var(--bs-white)); color: var(--bs-card-color); font-size: var(--bs-body-font-size); text-align: var(--bs-body-text-align);">with the Ottoman Empire, travel became easier, and so painters and authors visited Turkey and Persia and narrated < span style="background-color: hsl(var(--bs-white)); color: var(--bs-card-color); font-size: var(--bs-body-font-size); text-align: var(--bs-body-text-align);"> of these areas. The Ottoman Empire