John Frederick Lewis | Illustrations of Constantinople ... in the years 1835-6, [1838], folio, publisher's green cloth

John Frederick Lewis

Lewis's illustrations of Constantinople made during a residence in that city &c in the years 1835-6. London: T. McLean and others, [1838]

Folio (554 x 366mm.), lithographed title, dedication, 27 tinted lithographed views on 25 plates by Lewis after Coke Smyth, original green cloth gilt, rebacked in green morocco over contemporary boards, spotting to frontispiece and some plates, mainly marginal,corners bumped, round mark to upper cover

Lewis (1804-1876) "was one of the most sympathetic of Orientalist painters", and this work exemplifies the skill of his illustrations. The residence referred to in the title was not Lewis's, but John Richard Coke Smyth's, although following the publication of Illustrations of Constantinople the former did travel extensively in the East. Coke Smyth made his sketches during a two year stint in Constantinople as an unpaid attaché. He later accompanied the Earl of Durham to Canada in 1838 as a drawing master to the Earl's daughters and some of his work during the visit was published by McLean as Sketches in Canada.

LITERATURE:

Abbey, Travel 394; Blackmer 1015; Atabey 722; Ömer Koç Collection, volume 2, 331