ISTANBUL.- “Green Mosque” canvas, painted by the famous Turkish artist Osman Hamdi Bey, dated 1882, has gone on display at Artam Antik A.S. The leading Turkish auction house will offer exceptional paintings in the 282nd auction on May 24th, 2014 at the Shangri-La Istanbul. The cover lot highlight being offered in the sale is titled “Green Mosque”, a monumental canvas by Osman Hamdi Bey (1842-1910), one of the most important Turkish artist whose paintings were sold 3.9 Million in 2004 and 6.5 Million USD in 2008. Recently, Hamdi Bey’s painting “A Girl Arranging a Vase of Flowers” sold for 2.2 million dollars in Antik A.S. and “A Young Emir Studying” has just been acquired by Louvre Abu Dhabi museum and being displayed as a preview of the collection in Musée du Louvre Paris from May 2 to July 28, 2014.

“Green Mosque”, oil on canvas, 185 x 100 cm, signed and dated 1882, the magnificent Osman Hamdi Bey painting has a starting price of 10,000,000 Turkish lira (4.500.000 USD). Not only the strong provenance and the spectacular theme but also the painting is the largest canvas of Osman Hamdi Bey that is known in private collections. It’s been acquired from artist’s family in early 1900’s by the old Mayor of Gebze Mustafa Zeki Bey and stayed in the mayor’s family collection until today. This remarkable canvas has never seen in the public before and will be on sale for the first time in 132 years.

Edhem Eldem, a professor of history at İstanbul Boğaziçi University- grandson of Osman Hamdi's niece Azize Hanım, has prepared a comprehensive research about this masterpiece which is published in the special catalogue.. Also remarkable comments by Sakıp Sabancı Museum director Dr. Nazan Ölçer, Art Historian Prof. Dr. Zeynep Inankur and Museum director of İstanbul Modern Levent Çalıkoğlu, are included in the catalogue.. While this magnificent Osman Hamdi Bey masterpiece is in the headlines of the country’s media, an important exhibition is also taking place in Koç University’s Research Center, “Nazlı's Guestbook, Osman Hamdi Bey's Circle” curated by Edhem Eldem, the show provides rare insight into the cultural environment of the time and clues into the important personalities of the artist’s period. Born in 1842, Osman Hamdi was a prominent figure who contributed to the art and development of museum management in Turkey. An archeologist as well, this intellectual was the founder of the İstanbul Archaeology Museums and of Sanayi-i Nefise Mektebi (İstanbul Academy of Fine Arts), which is the prestigious Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts of today. Known for his famed painting “The Tortoise Trainer” sold at Antik A.S. auction for 3.9 million USD in 2004, Osman Hamdi uses an Orientalist perspective in his paintings. Trained under French Orientalist painters Jean-Léon Gérôme and Gustave Boulanger, he showcased works at the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1867. His “Green Mosque” painting is described as one of the masterpieces of Turkish art and expected to fetch a record price.

One of the other highlight of the sale is Halil Paşa’s important canvas “Fountain Road” with an opening price of 400,000 USD. Another important artist Şeker Ahmet Paşa’s “Still Life” will be auctioned with a starting price of 225,000 dollars. Hoca Ali Rıza’s large canvas and Istanbul paintings by Hikmet Onat, İbrahim Çallı will also be in the sale on the 24th of May sale.

Antik A.S. Chairman of the board, Turgay Artam said “the sale is giving buyers an opportunity to own museum quality masterpieces. The top lot Osman Hamdi Bey’s “Green Mosque Door” is an extraordinary painting which has never been in the market before. Not only being a monumental canvas from the artist’s most popular “In front of the Mosque” series, it has a significant place in the master characteristics of the artist and the work is reflecting the 1800’s daily Ottoman life in an extraordinary way.. We are honored to offer such a spectacular painting in our auction which is rarely seen outside of a museum.” Antik A.S., is the Turkey’s leading fine-art auction house by revenue and by the top lots sold.. Holding all the major auction records for Modern & Contemporary Turkish Art, Classical Turkish Paintings, Orientalists and Ottoman Art, locally, top 10 most expensive Turkish works of arts have been sold at Antik A.S. auction rooms. A special catalogue has been prepared for the auction including Ottoman arts, 19th century European Art and furniture, which will be on displayed at the Antik A.S. main building, Istanbul.

The works can be viewed until the 24th of May at Antik A.Ş. a catalogue may be requested or you can visit the website www.antikas.com to view an online catalogue.