Details
FOSSATI, Gaspard (1809-1883). Aya Sofia Constantinople, as recently restored by order of H.M. the Sultan Abdvl Medjid. London: P. and D. Colnaghi, August 14th 1852.
2° (552 x 361mm). Chromolithographic title, 25 tinted lithographic plates by Louis Haghe after Fossati. Accompanying text in French. (Some light soiling of plate margins, plates rehinged.) Original publisher's morocco-backed cloth, full title stamped in gilt on upper cover, short title on spine (recased, extremities worn).
According to Abbey, this impressive book was also published in Paris, the text by the Vicomte Adalbert de Beaumont being in French for both editions. Fossati, an Italian architect who worked in Russia before travelling to Constantinople in 1837, entered the service of the Porte in 1845, and in 1847 was charged with the restoration of Aghia Sophia. Although the separate work he intended to publish on the mosaics never appeared, and they were again covered up once the restoration work had been done, this is the first modern record of both the exterior and interior of the building. As Abbey notes, the lithographs represent the last work undertaken by Louis Haghe (1806-1885) before he broke off his connection with William Day to concentrate on water-colour painting, and the subject was an appropriate one for a lithographer who had spent nine years of work on Roberts's Holy Land. The chromolithographic title is probably by Owen Jones. Abbey Travel 396; Blackmer 619.
2° (552 x 361mm). Chromolithographic title, 25 tinted lithographic plates by Louis Haghe after Fossati. Accompanying text in French. (Some light soiling of plate margins, plates rehinged.) Original publisher's morocco-backed cloth, full title stamped in gilt on upper cover, short title on spine (recased, extremities worn).
According to Abbey, this impressive book was also published in Paris, the text by the Vicomte Adalbert de Beaumont being in French for both editions. Fossati, an Italian architect who worked in Russia before travelling to Constantinople in 1837, entered the service of the Porte in 1845, and in 1847 was charged with the restoration of Aghia Sophia. Although the separate work he intended to publish on the mosaics never appeared, and they were again covered up once the restoration work had been done, this is the first modern record of both the exterior and interior of the building. As Abbey notes, the lithographs represent the last work undertaken by Louis Haghe (1806-1885) before he broke off his connection with William Day to concentrate on water-colour painting, and the subject was an appropriate one for a lithographer who had spent nine years of work on Roberts's Holy Land. The chromolithographic title is probably by Owen Jones. Abbey Travel 396; Blackmer 619.
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