Established at the crossing point between Europe and Asia, seat first of the Byzantine and then of the Ottoman Empire, Istanbul has always been a magnet for the West. Its strategic importance, its fascinating history, the beauty of its location and the marvels of its architecture, all combined to make it a special place in foreign eyes. To capture its ever changing light and color and the bewitching complexity of its buildings forms, proved an exhausting, exhilarating, engrossing challenge for painters and photographers alike. Many distinguished figures in the history of photography made contributions to the pictorial record of the city, from Carlo Naya to Basile Kargopoulo, from Berggren to Sébah. ..... The present volume offers a generous sample of the work of James Robertson whose appointment as Chief Engraver of the Imperial Mint first brought him to Istanbul in the 1840s. The author of this book, Bahattin Öztuncay, has provided the reader with a splendid selection of views by Robertson, including images rarely seen by western photo historians. His biographical study brings to light fascinating new information about the progress of Robertson's photographic career. Profs. Heinz and Bridget Henisch Institute for the Arts and Humanistic Studies Pennsylvania, USA

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