C. BURCKARDT’S NACHF

CONSTANTINOPLE

KONSTANTINOPEL

CONSTANTINOPLA

CONSTANTINOPOLI

Weissenburg, Alsace / 1860 circa

30 X 22 cm.

This exquisite hand-colored lithograph dating circa 1860, titled “Constantinople,” provides a stunning depiction of the city known today as Istanbul, Turkey. Published by C. Burckardt’s Nachf in Weissenburg (Alsace), the print represents the city in remarkable detail.

The artwork features a multitude of minarets that punctuate the city’s skyline, testifying to the prominence of Islamic architecture in Constantinople during this period. These minarets, associated with the city’s many mosques, tower above the other structures and are a testament to the religious and cultural significance of Islam in this region.

Also notable in the lithograph is the Bosphorus Strait, a natural strait and internationally significant waterway in northwestern Turkey that forms part of the continental boundary between Europe and Asia. The Bosphorus connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara, and its strategic importance has made Constantinople a city of great historical significance. (BLR-Barry Lawrence Ruderman)