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Haghia Sophia [Aya Sofia] with the first gate of the Seraglio, Constantinople

Watercolour
ca. 1760 (painted)
Artist/Maker
Unknown

Watercolour, Haghia Sophia [Aya Sofia] with the first gate of the Seraglio, Constantinople. Formerly attributed to Giovanni Borra. About 1760.

Object details

Category
Paintings
Object type
Watercolour
TitleHaghia Sophia [Aya Sofia] with the first gate of the Seraglio, Constantinople (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Ink and watercolour on laid paper, mounted on modern wove paper
Brief description
Watercolour, Haghia Sophia [Aya Sofia] with the first gate of the Seraglio, Constantinople. Formerly attributed to Giovanni Borra. About 1760.
Dimensions
  • Height: 40cm
  • Width: 56.6cm
Style
Orientalism
Marks and inscriptions
  • Inscribed on back of former mount A View of San[...cut away] the first gate[...cut away] on the left: a Tu[...cut away] on Horseback with[...cut away]; in a different hand By D.Serres 1782
  • unidentified watermark (watermark on paper)
Credit line
Purchased with the assistance of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Art Fund, Shell International and the Friends of the V&A
Object history
According to Rodney Searight: - `Bt P.S.& N. [Phillips, Son & Neale], Aug.14 1972 £85'.
Historical context
Despite the inscription, the style of this watercolour is closer to SD121 & 122 by Borra, than to works by the marine artist Dominic Serres (1722-1793). It may be a later drawing by Borra, finished by an assistant. However, stylistic inconsistencies and the lack of known sketches by Borra of Haghia Sophia, argue against the former attribution to his hand. See Searight Archive. Also, the drawing is possibly a copy by someone who had never seen Aya Sofya, as it is quite inaccurate in scale and detail.
Production
Formerly attributed to Giovanni Battista Borra
Place depicted
Hagia Sophia
Bibliographic references
  • Searight, Rodney and Scarce, Jennifer M., A Middle Eastern journey : artists on their travels from the collection of Rodney Searight, Talbot Rice Art Centre, 1980
  • Darby, M, The Islamic Perspective: Aspect of British Architecture and Design in the 19th Century, London, V&A, 1983
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
SD.123

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Record createdOctober 4, 2007
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O139795/haghia-sophia-aya-sofia-with-watercolour-unknown/
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