Newsletters
The Victoria and Albert Museum in London will open a major exhibition on Nov. 7 tracing the story of a city that served as the capital of both the Byzantine and Ottoman empires.
Some of the 200 works on display will be shown in the U.K. for the first time.
"Constantinople to Istanbul: One City, Two Empires" is organized in collaboration with Koc Holding, a Turkish conglomerate, with support from the Huo Family Foundation. It runs until May 9, 2027.
Spanning the years from 330 CE to 1922, the show brings together art, design and architecture reflecting Istanbul’s cultural influence across the Mediterranean world and beyond.
Curated by V&A Senior Curator Tim Stanley and Project Curator Bella Radenovic, the exhibition evokes landmarks including the Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the Galata Tower. It also explores life in the city’s ports and streets through objects and designs.
Loans from the Sadberk Hanim Museum include 19th-century Ottoman women’s clothing and examples of calligraphy. Visitors will see "ucetek robes," a traditional three-skirted garment, alongside street dress that illustrates Ottoman clothing culture.
Also on show is "Women on an Outing" by Osman Hamdi Bey, from the Yapi Kredi Collection. The painting depicts Ottoman women in front of the courtyard of the Sultanahmet, or Blue Mosque.
Museums and institutions under Türkiye's Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Directorate of National Palaces lent works to the exhibition, coordinated by the ministry.
Contributors include the Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul Archaeology Museums, Hagia Sophia Historical Museum, Istanbul Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, Turkish Manuscripts Institution and Istanbul Harbiye Military Museum.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
2 min read
1 min read
