Detail of mosaic and fresco decoration in the Monastery of St. Saviour-in-the-Fields, Constantinople

Detail 1 of Mosaic and Fresco Decoration in the Monastery of St. Saviour-in-the-Fields, Constantinople​

Arthur Edward Henderson (1870-1956)​, Istanbul, 1899​

Watercolour​ on paper

A marvel of the Byzantine era, perfectly preserved for posterity: this delicate watercolour portrays the intricate pattern of a mosaic adorning the walls of the Chora church.

One of Istanbul’s most celebrated monuments, known for its captivating illustrative mosaics and remarkably well-preserved interior decoration, the Chora church has a fascinating history: built as part of a monastery in the 4th century, the Byzantine church became an Ottoman mosque in the 16th century, then was designated as a museum in 1945 before being transformed back into a mosque in 2020.

Artist and architect Arthur Edward Henderson travelled to Istanbul in 1896 under the sponsorship of renowned design theorist Owen Jones and immersed himself in the architecture of the city, producing numerous studies of mosques and churches alongside watercolour tracings of ornate decorative details.

The highest-quality materials have been used to create this museum-standard print. The giclée printing process captures fine detail and provides archival longevity; inks have been carefully selected to best reproduce the tones of the original artwork, with a superior finish and lifelong vibrancy. Textured fine art paper complements the printing process to enhance the visual appeal and create a tactile quality in the finished piece.