Giovanni Brindesi

GIOVANNI BRINDESI (Italy, 1826-Istanbul, 1888).
"Ottoman ladies" and "Men in Istanbul".
Watercolor on cardboard.
One of them signed.
Measurements: 28 x 22 cm; 41 x 34 cm (frame).

The pair of Orientalist watercolors being tendered show, on the one hand, two Ottoman ladies dressed in 18th century costumes having tea in their private quarters. One of the women smokes from a pipe while another is seated next to a table containing a Baglama (a long 3-stringed guitar) also known as a Saz. A native maid attends to their requests. The setting resembles an intimate interior, with intricate details in the clothing, suggesting an Orientalist style often seen in 19th century European art;
On the other hand, the second watercolor shows three men conversing by a fountain. The clothes, including fezzes and tunics, and the background refer to the bustling streets of Istanbul.

Giovanni Jean Brindesi began his career as a watercolorist and lived in Istanbul during the reign of Abdul Mecit (1831-1861). His main work consisted of depicting scenes from the public, private and military life of the city. His paintings were lithographed by the Lemercier publishing house in Paris and published in two albums (1855-1860). The first album presents a series of costumes, mainly of Ottoman officials, and the second album scenes of everyday life in Istanbul. Brindesi's original drawings are preserved in the Topkapi Palace Museum and Istanbul University. Although he did not leave many works, Brindesi is one of the most notable figures of Orientalism. His drawings were published in color lithographs by several other artists, such as Ch. Bour, Hadamard, J. Gaildrau, A. Charpentier, Gilbert, Bayot, Schultz and Sorrieu.