Artwork
The Bosphorus with the Allied Fleets at Anchor
The Bosphorus with the Allied Fleets at Anchor is a watercolor work on paper by the Impressionist artist Amedeo Preziosi. It dates from 1854 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
The fleets from Britain, France and Turkey sat near Buyiikdere, close to the Black Sea’s entrance.
This watercolour shows Allied fleets at anchor in the Bosphorus during the Crimean War. The fleets from Britain, France and Turkey sat near Buyiikdere, close to the Black Sea’s entrance. Paintings of the “seat of war in the east” became big hits back in Britain.
The war sparked British curiosity about Turkey. A larger version of this scene exists, painted in 1853.
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Overview
The Bosphorus with the Allied Fleets at Anchor is a watercolour depicting a naval scene during the Crimean War.
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows the British, French, and Turkish fleets anchored near Buyiikdere in the Bosphorus, close to the entrance to the Black Sea. This location was significant as it was near the theatre of war.
History & Provenance
The work is related to a larger version dated October 1853, indicating the artist's interest in capturing this scene. The Crimean War generated considerable interest in Turkey among the British public.
Context
The Crimean War sparked widespread curiosity about Turkey and its people, leading to a demand for visual representations of the region.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Amedeo Preziosi (2 December 1816 – 27 September 1882) was a Maltese painter and traveler known for his watercolours and prints of Constantinople, the Balkans, Ottoman Empire, and Romania.
