This magnificent view of Constantinople, or Deri Saadet (the threshold to Happiness) was painted behind the Suleymaniye Mosque, a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture by Sinan. The panoramic composition displays the great metropolis at the end of the 19th century and shows us how close the hub of the city was to its adjacent suburbs, a bucolic village in the foreground contrasting with the close quaters of the city below.

The painting is a topographically accurate view of Constantinople at this time, showing the famous Galata Bridge with the Golden Horn curling between the Bosphorus and the Marmara sea. Before the Galata Bridge is the busy port overlooked by the Yeni Valide Mosque and to the right the Topkapi Palace and Gardens. In the distance to the right of the panorama stand Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet).

Edmund Berninger studied in Weimar with Theodor Hagen and moved to Munich in 1874. He travelled extensiveley in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, twice visiting Constantinople before retiring to Munich.

Schlossleine, was the residence of the Hanoverian kings from 1642 until 1918. From 1921 until 1936 it was used as a Museum and since 1962 it has been the "Landtag" seat of the local government.