The exhibition consists of a selection from the Ottoman portrait photographs from Ömer M. Koç collection shows the high level of technical and artistic terms of photography by the interest of the Ottoman imperial family.
This exhibition marks the importance given by the Ottoman sultans, other members of the royal dynasty and statesmen in the 19th century and includes the photographs of Prince Ömer Faruk the son of Caliph Abdülmecid, Nazime Sultan the daughter of Sultan Abdülaziz, Fehime Sultan the daughter of Sultan Murad V, Prince Yusuf İzzeddin the son of Sultan Abdülaziz, Sultan Murad V, Prince Mehmed Selim the son of Sultan Abdülhamid II, Prince Mehmed Seyfeddin and Esma Sultan the children of Sultan Abdülaziz.
During the reign of Sultan Abdülaziz, who acceded to the throne in 1861 and was keenly interested in various branches of fine arts, Ottoman portrait photography reached a pinnacle of achievment in both technical and artistic terms, thanks to the skill of the Abdullah Brothers, who specialised in portrait photography. Vasilaki Kargopulo, who was appointed as court photographer in 1878, two years after Sultan Abdülhamid II came to the throne, contiuned to take similarly high quality portraits of the royal family and statesmen. As ameteur photography gained momentum from the turn of the century onwards, members of the royal family began to take their own photographs, the number of family photographs taken in private areas of royal residences increased significantly.
Some members of the Ottoman royal family were particularly interested in portrait photography, notably Caliph Abdülmecid Efendi, Heir Apparent Yusuf İzzeddin Efendi, and the royal princes Ömer Faruk, Mehmed Selaheddin and Osman Fuad, who had their portrait photographs on various occasions from their childhood onwards, and pioneered this interest among other members of the royal family as expressions of loyalty and friendship continued for many years.
Details of the exhibition can be found here.
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