Osman Hamdi Bey's second 'The Tortoise Trainer' becomes neighbor to the first version exhibited at the Pera Museum

Osman Hamdi Bey worked on two versions of the same subject, both close to each other. In the 1907-dated work, known as The Tortoise Trainer—which the artist himself called 'The Man with Tortoises'—there are six tortoises, unlike the five tortoises in the other painting made the previous year.

In the space, which is understood to be a room in the Bursa Green Mosque commissioned by Çelebi Sultan Mehmed (reigned 1413-1421), the calligraphy 'Şifa’al-kulûb lika’al Mahbub,' meaning 'The healing of hearts is meeting with the beloved (Prophet Muhammad),' can be seen.

Right next to it, unlike the other painting, a plaque inscribed with 'Muhammad' is hung, and the Çanakkale pitcher with green glaze on white, standing in the niche, is also unique to this painting.

'A REFLECTION OF THE ARTIST'S UNIVERSAL INSPIRATIONS'

Türkiye İş Bank Painting and Sculpture Museum founding curator Prof. Dr. Gül İrepoğlu commented on the work: "The painting, which Osman Hamdi Bey—who can be defined as the unique orientalist painter capable of looking at our culture from within—signed and dated with a French dedication 'as a souvenir with affection' to his son-in-law's father, Mahmud Münir Pasha, is a reflection of the enlightened artist's broad imagination and universal inspirations."