Hagia Sophia, Constantinople
1800
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1800
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Hagia Sophia, Constantinople is a 1800 watercolor by Turner, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This watercolor shows a busy square with a large, domed building in the background. In the foreground, people on horseback and foot gather near a small pavilion. The domed building has tall minarets and arched windows, and the sky is soft with a pale moon. The artist used light, loose brushstrokes to capture the glow of the scene. This style fits the Romantic movement, which focused on emotion and nature’s beauty. Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see this painting in person.