The Armenian photographers in the Ottoman Empire. Second half of the XIX century

Armenian photographers captured life in the Ottoman Empire of the XIX century, mainly, that of Constantinople. There are, however, many other cities as well, such as Bursa. The photos introduce us to the Armenian community of the empire. We can see both religious figures and ordinary families in national costumes, captured in them.

Initially, as it was throughout the world, chemists, jewelers and pharmacists became photographers since they possessed the skills making the creation of photographs possible. The knowledge of the chemical processes, used in the manifestation of images was of particular importance were.

The main photo studios of Constantinople belonged to the Armenians. Among them Pascal Seba, the «photographer of Constantinople», was the most successful. In 1857, he opened his first photo studio «El chark» in the city center, which became famous throughout the Middle East. His success was so overwhelming that Seba opened a second studio in the Egyptian capital, Cairo. His works evoked interest event in the West. Seba captured ancient cities, ruins, portraits and everyday life of local residents in his photographs.

In 1873, in the framework of the international exhibition in Vienna, Turkish artist Osman Handy Bey compiled the album «Folk costumes of Turkey’s nationalities». As a photographer, he chose Pascal Seba. Many photos of the album are dedicated to the Armenian population in their traditional costumes.

After Pascal Seba's death in 1886, his son Hovhannes Pascal Seba continued his activity. The studio also had a co-owner - photographer Pilicarpe Joaillier. «El chark» was renamed to «Sebah & Joailier». The famous studio, as a whole, lasted 95 years.

«Abdullah Frères» («Abdullah Brothers») is another Armenian photo studio, famous for the whole Ottoman Empire. The studio, opened by three brothers in 1858, gained such success that soon the brothers were appointed photographers of the Sultan himself. In 1867, they reached the international level. In Paris, at an international exhibition, a panoramic photograph of Constantinople made by them was presented. The length of the photo was 220 centimeters.

Among the clients of Abdullah Frères, there were high-ranking officials: the Prince of Wales Edward and the French Empress Eugenia.

As in the case of Pascal Seba, the glory of the Abdullah brothers reached Egypt, where they opened their second studio in Cairo. In 1900, Abdullah brothers sold their studio in Constantinople to the owners of «Sebah & Joailier».  

The works of Abdullah brothers represent a set of landscape photographs: a view of the Galata bridge, city landscapes. The photographers also captured everyday life of the city residents, representatives of various professions: carriers, street vendors, firefighters.

Among other outstanding photo artists of the XIX century, it is also worth mentioning Abdulahyan brothers from Constantinople - Vichen, Grigor and Stepan. Their legacy consists of 51 albums. They worked in different countries of the world.

Of particular interest are the works by Antoine Khan Sevryugin (Anton Vasilyevich Sevryugin or Sevryukyan, 1830-1933). He became the only photographer who the Persian Shah Nasser El Dean (Nasreddin Shah) allowed to photograph the women of his harem. Shah bestowed the title of khan on him for his high skills. Sevryugin, the owner of one of the most successful photo studio in Tehran, is considered to be the founder of the Iranian photography. He was born in the Russian embassy in Tehran in the family of Ambassador Vasily Sevryugin (had Armenian origins) and Armenian woman from Tiflis.

Sevryugin's works attracted international attention. Many ethnological museums in Europe acquired his portraits to replenish their scientific collections. German historian Friedrich Sarr ordered Sevryugin to travel south and southwest of Persia to photograph the Achaemenid and Sassanid period rocky reliefs and tombs of Naksh-Rustam.

The photographer was buried where he was born, in the courtyard of the Russian embassy in Tehran.