The Gardens of the Seraglio with European visitors inspecting the Column of the Goths, Constantinople
1810
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1810
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Michel-François Préaulx painted this watercolour during the Romantic era. It shows a quiet scene in an old palace garden. A French artist sketches a tall stone column while Turkish onlookers watch. Behind them stands a high palace wall with gateways. The painting mixes old ruins with new curiosity. Préaulx and his patrons are measuring the Column of the Goths, a 15-metre granite pillar topped with carvings. It dates back to the 300s and marks a Roman victory over the Goths. Look for more works at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
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