Artwork
View of the Bosporus, taken from the Height of Beykoz to the northwest, with the Aqueduct of Justinian in the background
View of the Bosporus, taken from the Height of Beykoz to the northwest, with the Aqueduct of Justinian in the background is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Jan van der Steen. It dates from 1775 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Jan van der Steen’s 1775 oil on canvas presents a panoramic view of the Bosporus as seen from the heights of Beykoz, looking northwest. The composition centers on a tranquil stretch of water populated by several vessels, while a distant, arched aqueduct—identified as the Aqueduct of Justinian— rises against a gently rolling horizon. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting captures a moment of everyday maritime activity along Istanbul’s strategic strait, emphasizing the coexistence of natural scenery and human engineering. Boats glide across the calm water, and figures on the shoreline suggest a leisurely engagement with the landscape, conveying a sense of peaceful commerce and the enduring presence of the historic aqueduct.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, van der Steen employs a restrained palette of muted greens, browns, and blues, allowing atmospheric depth to emerge through subtle tonal shifts. The brushwork is smooth and detailed in the foreground, while broader, softer strokes render distant hills and the aqueduct, reflecting the Dutch marine tradition’s emphasis on clarity and balanced composition.
History & Provenance
Created in 1775, the canvas entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings as part of its Dutch Golden Age and 18th‑century acquisitions. Documentation traces its provenance through several private collections before its acquisition by the museum, where it has been displayed as an example of European interest in Ottoman vistas.
Context
During the late 18th century, European artists increasingly turned to Ottoman subjects, drawn by the exotic appeal of the region’s architecture and geography. Van der Steen’s choice of the Bosporus and the Aqueduct of Justinian reflects this trend, situating the work within a broader fascination with cross‑cultural landscapes that blended topographical accuracy with romanticized tranquility.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Dutch painter Jan van der Steen captured 18th-century scenes of Istanbul and its waterways in oil.
