The first generation ottoman soldier painters and their impact on the local history of art

The beginning of Turkish figurative art has their origins in the 19th century. The first figurative artists came from the military of the Ottoman Empire. The causes of inevitable modernization process of Ottoman Empire resulted in modernization of Ottoman Army at the first stance. New schools established which were taken as examples from Western Military Schools and painting classes were added to their curriculum as a requirement of western perspective. The painting classes were planned in a narrow perspective for military officers in order to help their perspective on the battlefield i.e. drawing and reading map. Need for art (painting) teachers increased rapidly after the establishment of new schools. In the beginning, those needs were addressed by non-Muslim painting teachers. Yet, talented military officers were sent to Europe in order to satisfy those needs. As a result, military officers returned to the Empire as painters and started the figurative art in the Ottoman Empire. Framework of this thesis is limited with contribution of soldier painters in the beginning of Turkish figurative art. Soldier painters such as Seker Ahmed Pasha, Halil Pasha, Bahriyeli Ġsmail Hakkı have many contributions to Turkish figurative art such as production of first Turkish paintings and exhibitions in Beyoğlu – Istanbul. To put it in another way, they were pioneers of Turkish figurative art and they also rejuvenated the sense of art of citizens of Istanbul. In this thesis, painter soldiers will be examined in detail. Moreover, these questions will try to be answered: what are the reasons why soldier painters were sent to iii Europe? Who were them? Why did they go to Europe? How long did they stay in Europe? When did they return to the Ottoman Empire? What did they do in the Ottoman Empire after they returned? What were their effects on the sense of art in Istanbul? Key Words: soldier painters, first figurative arts in Ottoman Empire, Ottoman painters