- 147
FOSSATI, AYA SOFIA
Estimate
15,000 - 20,000 GBP
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Description
- Aya Sofia Constantinople, as recently restored by order of H.M. the Sultan Abdul Medjid. London: Colnaghi & Co., 1852
FIRST EDITION, large folio (560 x 460mm.), chromolithographed title and 25 HAND-COLOURED lithographed plates, HEIGHTENED WITH GUM ARABIC, AND MOUNTED ON CARD, without descriptive text, modern parchment-backed red morocco gilt, upper cover titled in gilt, title slightly browned, some mounts with staining, occasional spotting
Literature
Atabey 454; Blackmer 619; Abbey, Travel 397
Condition
Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"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 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."
Catalogue Note
THE RARE DELUXE ISSUE, WITH HAND-COLOURED PLATES MOUNTED ON CARD. Fossati's work appeared in three states: with hand-coloured plates mounted, and lithographed captions in Turkish; with tinted plates, unmounted; and, as here, with hand-coloured plates mounted and without printed captions. Court architect to the Russian royal family, Fossati travelled to Constantinople in 1837 to work on the building for the Russian Embassy. He completed the project in 1845 and entered the service of the Porte, designing the archives building, the telegraph-office, the hospital of the Ministry of War, as well as churches and private villas. In 1847, he was charged with the restoration of Aghia Sophia: this took two years and involved the removal of buttresses which had been added to protect the structure and the uncovering of valuable mosaics. The mosaics were subsequently covered up and are not illustrated in the present work. Fossati intended to publish a separate work on the mosaics, but this never materialised.