SCULPTURE IN LATE OTTOMAN PERIOD; PALACE GARDENS OF ISTANBUL

Abstract

Historical gardens are the formations reflecting life styles of communities, their environmental usages and construction techniques in addition to reflecting cultural characteristics of their periods. Palaces functioning as the focal points of state administration and ‘sultans’ living spaces are the artworks reflecting best the art and architectural cognizance of its period with their unique structures and open space organizations. Ottoman palaces mainly situated in İstanbul that are composed of various buildings where unique designs and compositions were created typically Turkish in character became the areas where the western influences began to be seen during the 19th Century. As there have been no sculptural work in Turkish Garden before the19th Century, works of sculptural art began to be seen in the Turkish Garden beginning from the 19th Century by means of western influences. Also sculptures were used prevalently along with the architecture in the urban texture of İstanbul lately during this period. Besides, sculpture art provided many work opportunities during this period and chamber workshops, where small models made by sculptors were enlarged and reproduced. During this process, sculptures started to become standardized and prevalent in addition to visual object use in buildings as well as gardens as an artistic activity. Animal figures brought from France for Istanbul palace gardens during Sultan Abdülaziz Period were designed according to the romantic movement as a response to neo classic style dominating the sculpture art in the 19th century. The topics of the sculptures made by this cognizance were selected as history, literature and animal figures. During Abdülaziz Period, animal figures that were brought from Europe were used in the gardens of İstanbul palaces, mansions and manors. In this research, sculptures situated in the palace gardens of Late Ottoman Period was studied. Construction date of the sculptures, workshops and especially the original design properties of the sculptures and their transformation through history was studied. On the other hand, the present situation and position of these plastic objects that were ordered by the sultans for Istanbul palace gardens during the 19th Century and their design concepts, decorative contributions to the gardens and design purposes will be discussed