Fahri Kaptan, 19. yüzyıl sonu - 20. yüzyıl başı

The artist known as Fahri Kaptan was the son of Eşref Bey, a mathematician. As well as being an artist, Fahri Kaptan also taught many pupils from 1887 onwards, initially at the naval schools and after 1905 at the Darüşşafaka School for Orphans and at other schools as well. “Captain Fahri” is probably the best known of a group of artists referred to as the “Turkish Primitives” who mainly produced paintings based on photographs, postcards, and engravings of famous Istanbul landmarks and settings. Much of their work is to be found in the Mimar Sinan University Museum of Painting and Sculpture collection, and is characterized by their efforts to advance their ability to form compositions, getting inspired by their European counterparts.

In “Maiden’s Tower”, we are looking in the direction of Constantinople, probably from Salacak (a view popular with European artists). Right of center is Maiden’s Tower, presumably as it looked at the beginning of the 20th century. Two Turkish warships are entering the Bosphorus to the left. Between the tower and us is a caique powered by four oarsmen and carrying what seems to be an elderly passenger in a hurry, who is heading for shore. The serried treatment of the waves in this painting is typical of Fahri Kaptan’s work as is the characteristically harmonious use of blue tones.