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A Greek Priest

Watercolour
about 1843 (Painted)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Greek refugees were encouraged to return to Constantinople after the conquest by the Turks in 1453. The Sultan, Fatih Mehmet II (the Conqueror) permitted the Greeks to practice their religion under their Patriarch and encouraged them to trade and bring wealth back to the city, which had been severely impoverished since the sack and occupation by the Latins from 1204. The priest exhibited here is shown in his house with ikons of the Virgin and St. Michael or St. George (a saint of Asia Minor) on the wall. Preziosi had married a Greek woman and had his studio in Pera, and thus had many contacts in the Greek community.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleA Greek Priest (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Pencil and watercolour
Brief description
A Greek Priest, about 1843. Aloysius Rosarius Amadeus Raymondus Andreas, known as Amadeo, 5th Count Preziosi
Physical description
Watercolour of a Greek Orthodox priest
Dimensions
  • Height: 24.2cm
  • Width: 17.4cm
Style
Object history
This drawing is part of a group of 34 bought by the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1907. [D.14-1907-D.47-1907].
Subjects depicted
Place depicted
Summary
Greek refugees were encouraged to return to Constantinople after the conquest by the Turks in 1453. The Sultan, Fatih Mehmet II (the Conqueror) permitted the Greeks to practice their religion under their Patriarch and encouraged them to trade and bring wealth back to the city, which had been severely impoverished since the sack and occupation by the Latins from 1204. The priest exhibited here is shown in his house with ikons of the Virgin and St. Michael or St. George (a saint of Asia Minor) on the wall. Preziosi had married a Greek woman and had his studio in Pera, and thus had many contacts in the Greek community.
Bibliographic reference
Llewellyn, Briony and Newton, Charles. The People and Places of Constantinople : watercolours by Amadeo Count Preziosi 1816-1882. London, Victori & Albert Museum, 1985
Collection
Accession number
D.32-1907

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
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