Council of State has ruled: Fatih Sultan Mehmet portrait is authentic

The Council of State has announced its decision following an investigation launched by the Ministry of Interior into the Fatih Sultan Mehmet portrait, which originated from the workshop of the Venetian painter Gentile Bellini and was purchased by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) in 2020. The Council of State ruled that the painting is original and that there was no public loss in the purchasing process.

The Fatih Sultan Mehmet portrait, which was purchased by İBB officials for 7.9 million liras at an auction held at Christie’s Auction House in London, the capital of England, on June 25, 2020, was brought to Istanbul and began to be exhibited at the İBB Presidential building.

PAINTING UNDER INVESTIGATION

However, after the painting was brought to Istanbul, it was placed under preliminary investigation by the Ministry of Interior following a report by a citizen claiming the "painting is fake." The investigation, launched under the instruction of the then-Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu, targeted officials including İBB Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who purchased the painting, and the then-Head of the İBB Foreign Relations Department Mehmet Alkanalka.

According to the report by 10Haber, the First Chamber of the Council of State determined through its examinations that the painting is original and that no public loss occurred during the auction and payment processes. Therefore, it was decided unanimously to revoke the investigation permit granted against the İBB officials.

News Source: 12punto