Hermann Corrodi

Acquired by the great grandparents of the present owners circa 1900

Original canvas. There are no signs of retouching visible under ultraviolet light, through an even varnish. Apart from some scattered, very fine hairline craquelure, notably visible in the yellow pigments in the sky, and a stretcher mark running along the extreme right edge, this work is in good condition, with fresh, bright colours, fine detail and a clean surface, and is ready to hang. Held in a decorative, striated, gold-painted moulded plaster and wood frame with organic motifs at the corners.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

In this atmospheric view west across the old Galata Bridge, with the imposing New Mosque dominating the skyline, Corrodi evokes the evening bustle of Constantinople, as traders, merchants and shoppers make their way home from the busy port area.

The Galata bridge spans the Golden Horn, the river estuary flowing into the Bosphorus that is often described as the world's greatest natural harbour. The Golden Horn attracted settlers to its shores in the seventh century BC and later enabled Constantinople to become a rich and powerful port. According to legend, the Byzantines threw so many valuables into it during the Ottoman conquest that the waters glistened with gold.

For hundreds of years the city's trade was conducted by ships that off-loaded their goods into warehouses lining the Golden Horn, which Corrodi depicts in the middle ground of this painting.