DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.29899#0585
Bk. I. Ch. IV.
TUEKEY.
565
It might, however, be expected that in the palace of the Sultan some-
thing better woulcl be found ; but there are few things more dis-
appointing than a visit to the Seraglio. In situation it is unrivalled,
ancl it has been the habitation of powerful and luxurious sovereigns for
more than fifteen centuries, yet it contains nothing that is worthy of
admiration, and hardly anything that is even interesting from its
associations. There is nothing within the enclosure which will stand
comparison even with the plaster glories of the Alhambra ; ancl the
contemporary palaces of Persia, or of Delhi and Agra, surpass it to
such an extent as to rencler comparison impossible.
There is one pavilion, the walls of which are covered with
Persian tiles, which is pleasing, both from its form and the mode of
decoration. Besides this, the various halls being separate builcl-
ings and grouped without formality together, the effect of the whole
is picturesque, though neither as parts nor as a whole have they
any architectural merit.
Among the rninor objects of architectural art none are more
pleasing than the fountains which frequently adorn the public places
in the provincial cities as well as in the capital ; though their outline
is by no means remarkable for beauty. They are genei’ally a square
block with a niche on each face, from a sjxmt in which the water
flows. The whole is crowned by a very deep cornice constructed in
wood, but without any brackets or apparent means of support, which
true architectural taste so inevitably demands. Their beauty, in
consequence, depends almost wholly on their ornamentation. That,
however, is of the most elaborate character, and not only pleasing
in form, but rich in colour ; of the same character, in fact, as that
of the Alhambra, and pleasing from the same cause, in spite of defects
in form.
It is probable that if the country towns, especially on the Asiatic
side of the Bosphorus, were examined with care, examples might be
found of domestic architecture exhibiting more care, and of a more
permanent character than any in the capital. The true Turk evi-
dently loves art, and has an instinctive appreciation of the harmonies
of colour—probably, also, of form ; and, if allowed an opportunity, would
have produced much that is beautiful in architecture. The blood
of the various races who inhabit the capital must, however, be very
much mixed, and various other circumstances militate against any
great development in that quarter. The subject seems worthy of more
investigation than has hitherto been bestowed upon it, but the first
appearance of the Tui’ks among civilized nations was only as warriors
pushing forward and fighting. When at last they settled on the shores
of the Bosphorus it was at an age too late for much true architectural
TUEKEY.
565
It might, however, be expected that in the palace of the Sultan some-
thing better woulcl be found ; but there are few things more dis-
appointing than a visit to the Seraglio. In situation it is unrivalled,
ancl it has been the habitation of powerful and luxurious sovereigns for
more than fifteen centuries, yet it contains nothing that is worthy of
admiration, and hardly anything that is even interesting from its
associations. There is nothing within the enclosure which will stand
comparison even with the plaster glories of the Alhambra ; ancl the
contemporary palaces of Persia, or of Delhi and Agra, surpass it to
such an extent as to rencler comparison impossible.
There is one pavilion, the walls of which are covered with
Persian tiles, which is pleasing, both from its form and the mode of
decoration. Besides this, the various halls being separate builcl-
ings and grouped without formality together, the effect of the whole
is picturesque, though neither as parts nor as a whole have they
any architectural merit.
Among the rninor objects of architectural art none are more
pleasing than the fountains which frequently adorn the public places
in the provincial cities as well as in the capital ; though their outline
is by no means remarkable for beauty. They are genei’ally a square
block with a niche on each face, from a sjxmt in which the water
flows. The whole is crowned by a very deep cornice constructed in
wood, but without any brackets or apparent means of support, which
true architectural taste so inevitably demands. Their beauty, in
consequence, depends almost wholly on their ornamentation. That,
however, is of the most elaborate character, and not only pleasing
in form, but rich in colour ; of the same character, in fact, as that
of the Alhambra, and pleasing from the same cause, in spite of defects
in form.
It is probable that if the country towns, especially on the Asiatic
side of the Bosphorus, were examined with care, examples might be
found of domestic architecture exhibiting more care, and of a more
permanent character than any in the capital. The true Turk evi-
dently loves art, and has an instinctive appreciation of the harmonies
of colour—probably, also, of form ; and, if allowed an opportunity, would
have produced much that is beautiful in architecture. The blood
of the various races who inhabit the capital must, however, be very
much mixed, and various other circumstances militate against any
great development in that quarter. The subject seems worthy of more
investigation than has hitherto been bestowed upon it, but the first
appearance of the Tui’ks among civilized nations was only as warriors
pushing forward and fighting. When at last they settled on the shores
of the Bosphorus it was at an age too late for much true architectural