Description
Yiannis Papanelopoulos (Greek, born 1936)
Constantinople at Dusk, oil on canvas, 40 x 80 cm. Frame: 54 x 94 cm.
Signed in Greek lower left.
Notes
This atmospheric painting captures a panoramic view of Istanbul at sunset, bathed in warm tones of gold, amber, and rose. In the foreground, the Golden Horn unfolds with ferries and small boats gliding across the shimmering waters, their reflections mirroring the city’s glowing lights. The background reveals the majestic skyline of the historic peninsula, dominated by the great domes and slender minarets of Hagia Sophia and the New Mosque (Yeni Cami). The artist masterfully combines rich impasto brushwork and vibrant color contrasts to convey the timeless allure of the city that bridges East and West. The water, rendered in deep turquoise, violet, and silver hues, interacts dramatically with the golden light of the evening sky. The overall composition radiates movement, light, and emotion — a poetic homage to the eternal beauty of Istanbul at dusk.