Artamonoff: picturing Byzantine Istanbul, 1930–1947

Abstract

Nicholas V. Artamonoff left behind a photographic puzzle of over one thousand images. He was a student and engineer, who, while studying and living at Robert College in Istanbul, gained an appreciation for the city's history and culture. With his Rollei camera, he captured Byzantine remains, entering nooks and crannies of fortifications and cisterns. He strolled through the city in the footsteps of architectural historians and archaeologists who explored and uncovered Byzantine Istanbul. His interests were broad: they ranged from imposing churches to the smallest details of architectural sculpture, from bustling marketplaces to the diligent work of lone craftsmen. The abundance of subjects makes the Nicholas V. Artamonoff Collection rich and engaging, providing a glimpse into the diverse urban environment in which he lived, and into the versatile photographer he was.