مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - City Depictions on Wall Paintings in Ottoman Period in Cappadocia

Abstract :

This paper studies the murals depicting city scenes in houses in Cappadocia, specifically in Kayseri and Nevşehir. Other center of the region such as Niğde or Aksaray do not have examples of Ottoman murals. Murals appeared in Ottoman art at the last quarter of 18th century, starting in İstanbul and almost simultaneously in other regional centers. In İstanbul urban scenes depict the Bophorus and the Golden Horn, as well as imaginary cities and landscapes. In Kayseri and Nevşehir, the most depicted scenes are of İstanbul and Edirne. In some examples İstanbul was portrayed through famous mosques or palaces. A city scene from Europe and the depiction of Kayseri city square are worth mentioning amongst other subjects. The style of the murals can be placed between manuscript illumination and western art. However, in some non-Muslim houses they present a more western style with their rather accurate perspective use of and color. The most important factor behind the spread of these murals in Anatolia was the commercial activities of local merchants in İstanbul. The non-Muslims of Nevşehir who had worked in İstanbul built stately mansions, decorated with such murals. It can also be suggested that the local aristocracy imitated the court, and the bureaucrats who had held office in İstanbul might have ordered such murals.