A market in front of the New Mosque (Yeni Cami), Constantinople

Preziosi painted this scene on the southern side of the Yeni Valide Camii, more widely known as the Yeni Cami or new mosque. Situated on the southern bank of the Golden Horn, near the foot of the Galata Bridge, it was well-known to European travellers, and often painted by visiting artists. Begun in 1597 by order of Safiye Sultan, the mother of Mehmed III, and designed by Davut Ağa, it was completed more than fifty years later by Turhan Hatice Sultan, the mother of Mehmed IV. Traditionally there was a market held in front of the mosque steps, and the artist has painted some of the more picturesque figures associated with it. A vendor of prayer beads, or tesbih, (made of blue glass or amber) is seated with his small glass-fronted display case in front of him, surrounded by beggars. A water-carrier or saka is plying his wares, and behind him on the steps are several soldiers. On the far right sits an arzuhalci or scribe, writing a letter for his client. A group of veiled women are seen mounting the steps, at the top of which is a green-robed figure, perhaps signifying a pilgrim who had been to Mecca. Another version of this composition, signed and dated Preziosi / 1881., is in a private collection, Istanbul.
We are grateful to Briony Llewellyn and Charles Newton for their assistance in cataloguing the present lot.