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Yeni Valide Camii [New Mosque] and Haghia Sophia from the Golden Horn

John Richard Coke Smyth

1836

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Romanticism Early 19th Century

Dominant colour

Yeni Valide Camii [New Mosque] and Haghia Sophia from the Golden Horn is a 1836 watercolor by John Richard Coke Smyth, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: John Richard Coke Smyth
When & what style?: 1836 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This sketch shows a small boat on water, with two people inside. One is rowing, wearing a red hat, while the other sits with a child. In the background, big domed buildings with tall spires line the shore, and other boats float nearby. The colors are soft—pale blues, browns, and yellows—with light brushstrokes that feel quick and loose. The artist focused on daily life near famous landmarks, blending the ordinary with grand architecture. The watercolor style keeps things simple but lively, almost like a snapshot. If you like this, check out the Victoria and Albert Museum for more works like it.

The story of this work

Overview

A watercolour drawing by John Richard Coke Smyth from 1836 depicts the Yeni Valide Camii and the Hagia Sophia as seen from the Golden Horn, though the scene is not topographically precise. The work is compared to a plate from J. F. Lewis's *Illustrations of Constantinople*. According to Rodney Searight's records, it was purchased from G. Norman in August 1970 for £35.

Read the full account in the museum source.