I'm in Istanbul and of course had to see the Hagia Sophia, built by Emperor Justinian on the site of two older churches both destroyed by rioters. After all this time and various conquests all that's left now is the building itself, most of the contents having been stolen or 'lost' in the Crusades and in 1453 Memhed II ordered the building turned into a mosque so there went what was left of the alter and the mosaics were removed....luckily they were plastered over and are still being uncovered. The walls in the main room and long vestibule are clad in rare and beautiful marbles, but the ceilings and second floor walls [ some mosaics have been uncovered ] are mostly faux work. There are also some very cool tromp l'oil panels that, to quote Joan Crawford, 'put a window where a window aught to be.'
One of the huge piers had to be put in exactly the wrong place....two choices: it goes here or the building collapses. What's the interior architect to do? hire painters and paint in a window....I think most people don't realize it's not real as none were paying it much attention, but I thought it was a nice touch.
The walls have these really great marble slabs, but I'm guessing even Justinian ran out of cash or maybe the Venetians took a few pieces to build their San Marco, so our painter friends were brought in and did a fine job of implying marble. It's so fake that your eye goes with it and the fun part is that after a while it's as real as the actual cold stone......had to touch a few of the walls as the 'real marble looked even more fake in places!...I love that.
Real on the skirting all the rest is paint.
Another view of a different type material in paint. Love the worn section, Guessing people were wondering the same as I a while ago....is this real?
While San Marco is entirely clad in mosaic tile, Hagia Sophia is a mix of paint and tile.
Another of those pesky piers..so, some faux arches went in..again they do a really convincing job, especially from the ground.
Different types of marble paneling in paint
Faux stone and tile
There are wonderful bronze doors except most are made of wood, but have been painted really beautifully to resemble bronze. Note the walls. These are real marble slabs..or are they....look fake to me....but they're real stone. I especially love the 'Wall of Troy' moldings that frame the panels.
The mosaic on the wall of 'The Mother of God with saints and presents' is very fine quality but so is the painted ceiling. It's a wonder that anything remains, but if San Marco is considered a reflection of the Hagia Sophia I can only imagine what this great building must have looked like during the Byzantine era when what is now paint was all mosaic....and it's all still being uncovered, it may be lurking under years of plaster....who knows?
The walls above the arches are mosaic, they look like carpets and sparkle so beautifully.....I so hope there are mosaics everywhere here...even if we can't see them, no disrespect to my painter friend who spent so much time covering them up.
Although not paint, an honorable mention of faux must be given to a marble screen that is carved to look like doors.
The outside of the Hagia Sofia in the distance.
Pretty in pink it stood as the world's largest cathedral for 1500 years.
All in all, a pretty great building. A real marvel in marble, paint and stone.....and by the look of the city, that has quite a few mimi Hagia Sophias it really did change architecture.
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