Mıgırdiç Givanian, 1848-1906

Mıgırdiç Givanian was the son of a violinist who was employed in the service of Sultan Abdülmecid (r1839-1861). He studied at the “Drawing and Painting Atelier” that opened in Pera in 1874 and was run by the French artist, Pierre Désiré Guillemet. Givanian gained considerable popularity during his lifetime with his romantic scenes of Istanbul’s shores, such as Seraglio Point, and its monuments, such as Maiden’s Tower.

This particular landscape painting, with its extraordinary use of light and its romantic atmosphere, is also interesting for another reason. The vantage point of the scene is quite close to where the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art stands today. The built-up appearance of Istanbul’s quayside district that we know today was only just beginning to get under way at the turn of the 20th century, which also makes this painting an important historical document. The little coal-fired steamer heading for shore to the left, below center, is a forerunner of today’s ferryboats and gives a touch of modernity to an otherwise timeless scene.