David Çıraciyan

David Çıraciyan (Born 1839 Istanbul, Ottoman Turkey - died Istanbul, Ottoman Turkey 1907) was a prominent Ottoman painter of Armenian decent.

Biography

One of the best glimpses into David Çıraciyan's life is a short manuscript of his autobiography which reads as follows:

My name is David Efendi and my cognomen Çıracı. My late father, a merchant, was Krikor Efendi. I was born in the year 1255 of the Julian calendar, equivalent to the 1255th year of the Hegira, on the 21st day of March in Istanbul. This is confirmed by my birth certificate, of which an endorsed copy is appended. After completing my primary education at the Armenian Catholic School in Beyoğlu which closed down two years ago, I attended the Armenian Catholic School for five or six more years from the year 1264 of the Julian calendar, corresponding to 1264 of the Islamic calendar. Here I learned ancient and modern Armenian, Latin, Italian, French and English. I learned painting at studios, and have no [diploma?] from any school. I can talk and write Armenian, Latin, Italian, French and English, read and speak Turkish but only speak Arabic. Eight months after returning to Istanbul on 1 September 1307 at the age of 53, I was appointed art teacher to the preparatory classes [equivalent to senior high school] of the Imperial Civil Service School with a wage of 500 kuruş. On 18 March 1311 my wage was raised by 50 kuruş to 550 kuruş, and on 1 March 1313 was reduced to 500 kuruş, the other 50 kuruş to be paid at a future date. On 17 September 1314 my wage was increased by 30 kuruş to 530 kuruş. When the preparatory class of the Imperial Civil Service School became a day school it moved to new premises in Mercan, where I am presently teaching art at a wage of 530 kuruş. On 17 Receb 1311 AH I was awarded a Fine Arts Medal. An endorsed certificate confirming this is enclosed. I have no rank and no other medal but that mentioned above. After learning painting I spent many years pursuing this occupation in Egypt, France, England, Switzerland and Austria. As explained above, I have been teaching since 1308. Since, thanks be, I have never been taken to court, I have no document to prove my acquittal.

Subject Matter

It is known that the oldest of Çıraciyan's paintings date back to the later half of the 19th century. The 1895, 1897 and 1898 dated Çıraciyan paintings employ typical and picturesque scenes of Istanbul as subjects. These were also subjects used by the contemporary Ottoman artists of Istanbul such as Garabet Yazmaciyan and Mgirdic Civanyan. The Maiden's Tower, Rumeli Hisarı Peer, Küçüksu Summer Palace, Bosphorus from the Hills of Anadolu Hisar, Seraglio Point and Topkapı Palace, Buyukdere, the hills behind Rumeli Hisar and Yenikoy are the locations that are most common in Çıraciyan's paintings.

Style

What should be specifically noted in regards to the works of Çıraciyan is the colour palette that ensures a distinction at first site, gives a unique sense of brightness and atmosphere, which are perfectly balanced, with a domination of pale blues. It has been observed Çıraciyan used photographs as a basis for his settings of his compositions. He also used these photographs directly as a background for his paintings.