15/11/2012 14:07
Sotheby’s presents for sale three canvas by Aivazovsky
Sotheby’s presents for sale three views of Constantinople by Ivan Aivazovsky in the Important Russian Art Evening sale on 26th November, 2012. The Galata Tower by Moonlight (est. £500,000-700,000); Moonrise over the Golden Horn (est. £700,000-900,000) and Shipping on the Bosphorus, Constantinople (est. £80,000-120,000) all depict the city which so inspired Aivazovsky. The artist visited the Ottoman capital several times throughout his life and returned to the subject often. Aivazovsky’s talents were recognised by Sultan Abdülaziz (1830-1876) who commissioned a series of views of Constantinople in 1874 to decorate the Dolmabahçe Palace. Sotheby’s London achieved the record price for a Turkish view by Aivazovsky with View of Constantinople and the Bosphorus, (1856) which sold for £3,233,250 in April 2012.