SULTAN AHMET III'S FOUNTAIN BY THE ENTRANCE TO TOPKAPI SARAYI, CONSTANTINOPLE

THE FOUNTAIN PORTRAYED IN THIS EXQUISITE OIL IS ONE OF THE JEWELS OF THE TOPKAPI COMPLEX. BUILT BY SULTAN AHMET III IN 1728, IT IS A VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF TURKISH ROCOCCO ARCHITECTURE. THE SQUARE BUILDING HAS A LIGHT ROOF SURMOUNTED BY FIVE SMALL DOMES. ON EACH OF THE FOUR SIDES THERE IS A ESME, OR WALL FOUNTAIN, AND AT EACH OF THE FOUR CORNERS A SEBIL. EACH OF THE ESME IS SET INTO A NICHE FRAMED IN AN OGIVAL ARCHWAY. THE VOUSSOIRS OF THE ARCHES ARE IN ALTERNATING RED AND PINK MARBLE AND THE FACADE IS SPLENDIDLY DECORATED WITH FLORAL DESIGNS IN LOW RELIEF. A CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPH OF THE TEMPLE PERFECTLY ILLUSTRATES THE ACCURACY AND ROMANTICISM OF THE PRESENT WATERCOLOUR.