Osman Hamdi Bey : An Ottoman Artist

A self-portrait , made by Osman.

I've been 'introduced' to this great artist by a Turkish friend (Thanks Efendi ! You too, Bri!)

Kicking off Art & Culture month (which is till the 5th of March), let us start with perhaps, the best artist I know of, in the Ottoman World. Osman Hamdi Bey was born in 1842, in Constantinople.

In his lifetime, was an Ottoman statesman, intellectual, art expert and also a prominent and pioneering Turkish painter.

He was also an accomplished archaeologist, and is considered as the pioneer of the museum curator's profession in Turkey.

He was the founder of Istanbul Archaeology Museums and of İstanbul Academy of Fine Arts (Sanayi-i Nefise Mektebi in Turkish), known today as the Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts.

This post is dedicated in his memory (he died on the 24th of February, 1910) and legacy:

 1. The Tortoise Trainer:

 
2. The Arms Seller:

 3. Girl Reciting Qur'an:

 4.Girl with yellow ribbon (Sarı Kurdelalı Kız):

5. Satranç/Chess:

 

 6.İlahiyatçı/theologian.

7. Gezintide Kadınlar:

8. (unknown)

 

9.Vazo Yerleştiren Kız./Lady who fit the vase:

This link (though in Turkish) contains many more pictures.