Ivan Aivazovsky painted many works depicting Istanbul (formerly Constantinople), which he considered one of the most beautiful cities on earth. But my personal favorite is "View of the Leander's Tower in Constantinople" (1848).
In this work, Aivazovsky becomes not just a marine painter, but a storyteller of Eastern legends:
• Golden Hour at the Maiden's Tower
The Leander's Tower basks in the rays of the setting sun. Aivazovsky uses the same techniques as in his lunar seascapes, but fills the light with warmth—it's not cold and mysterious, but velvety, enveloping the city in a haze of evening tranquility.
• Poetry of Everyday Life
In the foreground, a caique with mysterious Turkish women in veils. This everyday scene transforms into a poetic symbol: swift movement towards the city of dreams, the hidden beauty of the East, a mystery floating on the waters of the Bosphorus.
• Dialogue of Cultures
The artist, who grew up by the sea in Feodosia, subtly senses the Mediterranean atmosphere of Constantinople. This work brings together his Armenian roots, Russian soul, and love for Ottoman culture.
For me, this painting is the perfect moment of calm, when the sun turns an ordinary evening into magic, and an ordinary boat becomes a symbol of a journey into a fairy tale.
This concludes our journey with Aivazovsky. Thank you for sailing these seas with me!
With love,
Poppy
