Not far from the Topkapi Palace stands this charming kiosk, the Fountain of Ahmed III, an Ottoman ruler of the early 18th century. From inside the building, four drinking fountains (one on each side of the building) are visible. The green bands that wrap the building above the fountains are inscribed with a poem on the wonders of water that can be read consecutively during a refreshing stroll around the kiosk. I wonder if the Italian painter Alberto Pasini stopped here on his travels.Image: Anonymous - The Fountain of Ahmed III - Istanbul, c.1900, hand-tinted photograph, Alinari Archives, Florence, Italy.
13 comments:
How beautiful!
Amazing as a Persian an Otomane mix with Bizantine mood. Lovely do you had found this. Thank you.
Ester
There is something about Islamic art that makes small architectural pieces look super. I always thought I would get bored with NOTHING but calligraphy, floral and geometric designs, but it worked out well.
And the screened window mesh, wide eaves and fountains of course. Small, beautiful to look at and well adapted for the heat.
Kristin, you are so right. Esther, it was a piece of luck that I found this image. Hels, I read that nowadays, the fountain attendants also dispense sherbet in the summertime. It's a very human sized building, especially when you think of Topkapi Palace nearby. I can see the movie (Topkapi) in my mind right now!
By sheer coincidence I'll be travelling to Istanbul with a group of students on Monday. Our hotel is near the Topkapi Palace, so I will be sure to check out this kiosk. Thanks.
One of the principal thing of Art Persian History is exactly no humans bodies; although all shapes to humans are normally a great design under point view architectural. I saw too Topkapi, and also remember this warm mood.
Thanks to you Jane, and nice weekend to all...
P.M., Lucky you. May the ghost of Melina Mercouri lead you on your adventure.
Ester, I imagine Topkapi is cool on a hot summer day.
Small is beautiful too. Coincidentally,the NY Times ran an article on Wednesday: "Sacred and Secular, in a Byzantine Weave."(The New York Times, May 26, 2010, p. C1).
Kate, thank you for the information on the article.
Arrived in Istanbul today and visited the Topkapi - beautiful. As we came out, there was the fountain/kiosk, right outside the Topkapi and right below the Hagia Sophia. Thanks for alerting me to it.
Bring to us some pictures from a beautiful Hagia Sofia so excellent too. have a plenty time and enjoy yourself.
Well, I went to Istanbul just over two weeks ago and on my very first day I saw the kiosk. I took a photo, which you can see on my blog at
http://www.pauldoolan.com/2010/06/in-blog-blue-lantern-jane-posted-entry.html
Thanks for alerting me to this.
Post a Comment