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Constantinople and the Bosphorus from above Scutari

Giuseppe Schranz

1837

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Romanticism Early 19th Century

Dominant colour

Constantinople and the Bosphorus from above Scutari is a 1837 watercolor by Giuseppe Schranz, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Giuseppe Schranz
When & what style?: 1837 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This painting shows a wide view of a busy harbor city with a long stretch of water filled with ships. In the foreground, a group of people in colorful robes stand on a hillside near a lone tree. The city below has domed buildings and minarets, while the water is packed with sailing boats and a few large ships far out. The artist used soft watercolors to blend the sky and sea into one light blue haze. The people in the foreground look like they’re either travelers or locals, dressed simply but distinctly. If you like this view, check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see the painting in person.

The story of this work

Overview

A watercolour drawing by Giuseppe Schranz depicts a landscape view of the Bosphorus from above Scutari, featuring figures in the foreground. The composition extends from the Sea of Marmara to Galata, capturing the strait’s expanse. The work is part of a series of seven similar watercolours on paper watermarked J WHATMAN TURKEY MILL 1834. Another version of this view was previously sold at Phillips, while a related set of drawings appeared at Sotheby’s in 1981.

Read the full account in the museum source.

About the artist

Artist

Giuseppe Schranz

Giuseppe Schranz painted watercolours of 19th-century Istanbul. These soft, detailed views show city gates, mosques, and the waterway between Europe and Asia. He captured places like the Middle Gate of Topkapi Palace…

See the richer artist page