Drawn By War: Crimea In The 1800s
- By Amos Chapple
During the Crimean War of 1853-56, a London printing house compiled one artist's paintings of Crimean towns and landscapes to satisfy British curiosity about the peninsula. Nearly 200 years later, many of the sites remain in the headlines amid the latest conflict over the territory.
1
This painting of the beach at Yevpatoria, western Crimea, is one of 52 illustrations of the peninsula made by Swiss-Italian artist Carlo Bossoli (1815-84).
2
The ruins of an unidentified church in Crimea
Bossoli spent most of his youth in Odesa in what was then the Russian Empire. From 1840 until 1842, he traveled throughout Crimea to capture its culture and landscape before cameras were widely available.
Bossoli spent most of his youth in Odesa in what was then the Russian Empire. From 1840 until 1842, he traveled throughout Crimea to capture its culture and landscape before cameras were widely available.
3
Crimean Tatars dance in Massandra, southern Crimea.
In 1853, war broke out on the Crimean Peninsula between Russia and an alliance of the Ottoman Empire, Britain, France, and Sardinia, sparking intense public interest in the little-known region.
In 1853, war broke out on the Crimean Peninsula between Russia and an alliance of the Ottoman Empire, Britain, France, and Sardinia, sparking intense public interest in the little-known region.
4
A view of the southern Crimean town of Yalta
With the war ongoing, a London publishing house approached the well-established Bossoli with an offer to reproduce his early Crimea paintings into a book with explanatory captions.
With the war ongoing, a London publishing house approached the well-established Bossoli with an offer to reproduce his early Crimea paintings into a book with explanatory captions.
5
A caravan of Tatars travels across the plain of an unspecified region of Crimea.
The book, titled Beautiful Scenery And Chief Places Of Interest Throughout The Crimea, was published in 1856. The same year, Bossoli's Crimea paintings were exhibited to a curious public in London.
The book, titled Beautiful Scenery And Chief Places Of Interest Throughout The Crimea, was published in 1856. The same year, Bossoli's Crimea paintings were exhibited to a curious public in London.
6
A Crimean Tatar school depicted at an unspecified location in Crimea
From around 500 copies of the book that were published, one is today held by the DeGolyer Library of the Southern Methodist University in Texas. The images inside are striking for the largely lost world they capture, as well as the continued geopolitical importance of many of the landmarks Bossoli painted.
From around 500 copies of the book that were published, one is today held by the DeGolyer Library of the Southern Methodist University in Texas. The images inside are striking for the largely lost world they capture, as well as the continued geopolitical importance of many of the landmarks Bossoli painted.
7
Snake Island is depicted on a stormy day.
The island became famous as the position of Ukrainian troops who defied a Russian warship at the opening of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, but its turbulent history stretches back to early Greek civilization.
A temple to Achilles once stood on the island, which was later fought over by the Ottoman and Russian empires, then controlled by Romania. The Soviet Navy captured the island in World War II, then Ukraine inherited it following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The island became famous as the position of Ukrainian troops who defied a Russian warship at the opening of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, but its turbulent history stretches back to early Greek civilization.
A temple to Achilles once stood on the island, which was later fought over by the Ottoman and Russian empires, then controlled by Romania. The Soviet Navy captured the island in World War II, then Ukraine inherited it following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
8
Sevastopol as viewed from a “watchtower” in the center of town
The port city has been under Russian control since Crimea was forcibly annexed in 2014 and has repeatedly been targeted by missile strikes since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The port city has been under Russian control since Crimea was forcibly annexed in 2014 and has repeatedly been targeted by missile strikes since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
9
The town of Bakhchysaray was the capital of the Crimean Khanate until the entity’s annexation by Russia in 1783
Bakhchysaray was emptied of Muslim Tatars after Stalin’s Soviet Union forcibly deported the ethnic minority en masse as collective punishment for some Tatars fighting on the side of the Nazis in World War II.
Bakhchysaray was emptied of Muslim Tatars after Stalin’s Soviet Union forcibly deported the ethnic minority en masse as collective punishment for some Tatars fighting on the side of the Nazis in World War II.
10
A Crimean Tatar house in Alupka village
According to Bossoli, such village houses were often built against rocky outcrops that served as one wall of the residence.
"The roof is flat, and upon it, when the weather is fair, the inhabitants commonly assemble, working or enjoying one another's society," the artist wrote.
According to Bossoli, such village houses were often built against rocky outcrops that served as one wall of the residence.
"The roof is flat, and upon it, when the weather is fair, the inhabitants commonly assemble, working or enjoying one another's society," the artist wrote.
11
The tomb of Mithridates on the coast of Crimea near Kerch
This otherworldy chamber is believed to have been built for the remains of a king of the Spartocids, a Thracian dynasty who ruled the Crimean Peninsula around 2,200 years ago. By the time Bossoli painted it, it had long since been looted by tomb raiders.
This otherworldy chamber is believed to have been built for the remains of a king of the Spartocids, a Thracian dynasty who ruled the Crimean Peninsula around 2,200 years ago. By the time Bossoli painted it, it had long since been looted by tomb raiders.
12
A view of Mt. Mithridates from a waterfront road through Kerch
From this viewpoint today, the Kerch Bridge to Russia would be visible at left, some 2 1/2 kilometers behind the mountain.
From this viewpoint today, the Kerch Bridge to Russia would be visible at left, some 2 1/2 kilometers behind the mountain.
13
A view over Kerch from Mt. Mithridates
The monument on the right was a mausoleum to Russian archaeologist Ivan Stempkovsky that was damaged in fighting, then demolished by the Soviets, after Kerch was recaptured from Nazi control in 1944.
The monument on the right was a mausoleum to Russian archaeologist Ivan Stempkovsky that was damaged in fighting, then demolished by the Soviets, after Kerch was recaptured from Nazi control in 1944.
14
Bilohirsk was known by the Crimean Tatars as Karasubazar, meaning "market on the Karasu River."
The Crimean name references the town’s bazaar, which included a major slave market for kidnapped Slavs during the Crimean Khanate.
The Crimean name references the town’s bazaar, which included a major slave market for kidnapped Slavs during the Crimean Khanate.
15
Balaklava as seen from the Genoese-era fortifications that overlook the natural harbor
Balaklava became emblematic of the Crimean War in Britain due to the costly battle fought for control of the bay.
Balaklava became emblematic of the Crimean War in Britain due to the costly battle fought for control of the bay.
16
The Khan's Palace in Bakhchysaray
The book of Crimean paintings provided a payday for Bossoli, but probably did little to advance his standing in the art world. By the time his 1856 book was published, the artist's technical prowess had advanced significantly from his youthful Crimean work, as can be seen in this 1857 painting of Bakhchysaray. Bossoli died in 1884 and is buried in Lugano, Switzerland.
The book of Crimean paintings provided a payday for Bossoli, but probably did little to advance his standing in the art world. By the time his 1856 book was published, the artist's technical prowess had advanced significantly from his youthful Crimean work, as can be seen in this 1857 painting of Bakhchysaray. Bossoli died in 1884 and is buried in Lugano, Switzerland.
