Fausto Zonaro

Fausto Zonaro (1854, 1929) was an Italian painter who served as the official court painter to Sultan Abdülhamid II of the Ottoman Empire, living in Constantinople for nearly two decades. He became renowned for his Orientalist compositions depicting Ottoman life, landscapes, military scenes, and the vibrancy of Istanbul's streets and waterways. His works are highly sought after at auction, particularly in Middle Eastern and European sale rooms, for their vivid documentation of late Ottoman culture.