Description:

 FAUSTO ZONARO (ITALIAN, 1854–1929), "UN CAÏQUE SUR LE BOSPHORE – AU FOND SAINTE-SOPHIE", OIL ON BOARD
Constantinople (Istanbul), late 19th to early 20th century

Description:
Oil on board, signed lower right “Zonaro” and inscribed on the reverse in the artist’s hand: “Un Caïque sur le Bosphore – au fond Sainte-Sophie – par Zonaro.” This vibrant composition captures an Ottoman rowing boat (caïque) gliding across the Bosphorus, set against the iconic silhouette of the Hagia Sophia. The painting is infused with bold impasto and shimmering reflections, characteristic of Zonaro’s impressionistic technique. The figures, clad in red fezzes and white garments, row in rhythmic unison across turquoise waters under a rose-tinted sky.

Rendered with Zonaro’s signature fluency and colouristic vibrancy, the scene evokes both daily life and imperial pageantry along the Bosphorus, themes central to his celebrated Ottoman oeuvre.

Board dimensions: approx. 27x 19.5 cm
Unframed

Comparable examples:

  • Fausto Zonaro, “Rowers on the Golden Horn,” oil on board, sold at Bonhams, London, Orientalist Art, 25 October 2021, Lot 51, for £27,500.

  • Fausto Zonaro, “Ottoman Procession on the Bosphorus,” sold at Christie’s, Dubai, Middle Eastern Modern & Contemporary Art, 23 March 2017, Lot 3, for $56,250.

  • Fausto Zonaro, “Sunset on the Bosphorus,” oil on canvas, sold at Sotheby’s, London, 19th Century European Paintings, 11 December 2013, Lot 77, for £38,500.

Note:
This charming and atmospheric view reflects Zonaro’s keen sensitivity to Ottoman light, ceremonial movement, and the interplay of architecture and sea. The handwritten title and artist’s name on the reverse confirm authenticity and lend additional historic value, indicating this was likely retained in the artist’s studio or given directly to a collector.

 

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May 6, 2025 1:00 PM BST
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