James Robertson - Caryatids at the Erechtheum - B2018.7.63 - Yale Center for British Art

James Robertson was a pioneering photographer who worked in Istanbul in the mid-19th century. Born in London in 1813, he began his career as a lithographer before turning to photography. In 1844 he teamed up with Felice Beato, an Italian-British photographer, and together they set up a photographic studio in Istanbul. Robertson and Beato were among the first photographers to document the Ottoman Empire and its people. Their images captured the daily life, architecture and landscapes of Istanbul and other parts of the Empire. They also documented the Crimean War, which took place from 1853 to 1856, and produced some of the earliest war photography. Robertson's photographs are remarkable for their technical quality and artistic composition. He used the wet collodion process, which allowed for greater detail and clarity in the images. He also experimented with different angles and perspectives, creating dynamic and visually striking compositions. Some of Robertson's most famous photographs include 'The Seraglio Point from the Bosporus', 'The Suleymaniye Mosque' and 'The Bazaar at Constantinople'. His work was exhibited at international exhibitions, including the Great Exhibition in London in 1851 and the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1867. Robertson continued to work as a photographer in Istanbul until his death in 1888. His legacy lives on through his stunning photographs, which offer a glimpse of a bygone era and a rich cultural heritage.

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