The Fossati brothers, Gaspare (7 October 1809 – 5 September 1883) and Giuseppe (1822–1891), were Swiss architects. They completed more than 50 projects in Turkey (then the Ottoman Empire) during the Tanzimat era. They belonged to the Morcote branch of the Fossati, a prominent Ticinese family with mentions in the historical record going back to the 14th century. Gaspare is most noted for his renovation of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, which virtually saved it from destruction.
Gaspare Fossati
Gaspare Fossati's 1852 depiction of the Ayasofya Mosque, which he and his brother renovated. Lithograph by Louis Haghe
Born in Ticino, Gaspare and Giuseppe Fossati were born into a notable family of artisans from Morcote in the Ticino region. Their ancestors included architects, artists and engineers.[1]
The brothers finished primary and middle school in Venice and studied architecture at the Brera Academy in Milan. During his period at the Academy, Gaspare won many prizes. Between 1829 and 1831, Gaspare produced many lithographs of Rome, and produced a catalogue for Leon XII. In around 1833, Gaspare began working for the architectural team of Luigi Rusca in Saint Petersburg, and in 1837, he married Rusca's daughter. (Rusca had died in 1822, but his nephew carried on with Rusca's projects in Saint Petersburg.)[2]
At the end of 1836, Gaspare was appointed to Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), becoming the official court architect and agreed to draw up plans for the Russian Embassy in Constantinople. He recruited his brother-in-law, Alessandro Rusca, and his own 17 year old brother, Giuseppe Fossati. He set sail from Odessa, arriving in Constantinople on 20 March 1837. The Fossati brothers' time in Constantinople would mark the beginning of a very productiver period, and Gaspare would enjoy a distinguished career there.[3]
Between 1841 and 1843, the Fossati brothers built the brick Bab-ı Seraskeri Hospital (Bekirağa Bölüğü) and Liman İskelesi Karakolu in Eminönü for the Ottoman Administration. They were appointed to renovate Arzuodası at Babıali in 1844, and to build important buildings in Sultanahmet such as Dârülfünun (university) (1845–1846), Hazine-i Evrak, and Mekteb-i Sanayi (1846–1848). They also built the Church of SS Peter and Paul between 1841 and 1843.[4]
In 1847, Sultan Abdülmecid appointed them to renovate the Hagia Sophia. They completed the restoration in two years, utilizing more than eight hundred workers. They were able to document a larger number of Byzantine mosaics whose precise location within the Hagia Sophia today have not been fully documented since many were either painted over or destroyed often without recording their original location. The drawings of the Hagia Sophia mosaics are kept in the Cantonal Archive of Ticino.[5] Sultan Abdülmecid allowed the brothers to also document any mosaics they might discover during this process which were later archived in Swiss libraries.[6]
The Telgrafhane-i Amire was built by Giuseppe Fossati in 1855. Upon the death of Reşit Paşa in 1858, the Fossati brothers built his mausoleum in the corner of the graveyard in the Bayezit complex. They also renovated Venedik Palace (today the house of the Italian Ambassador) in 1853, and the Dutch Embassy in Beyoğlu in 1854. They built the Spanish (1854) and Iranian (1856) embassies in Istanbul and the Ottoman University, adjacent to the Hagia Sophia. In addition, they built three Italian theaters. One of them was the Naum Theatre, which was built in Galatasaray in 1846, and destroyed by a fire in 1870.
In 1858, the Fossati brothers returned to Switzerland. They built their homes in Morcote in the Turkish style. They are buried in Morcote.
fossati, brothers, gaspare, october, 1809, september, 1883, giuseppe, 1822, 1891, were, swiss, architects, they, completed, more, than, projects, turkey, then, ottoman, empire, during, tanzimat, they, belonged, morcote, branch, fossati, prominent, ticinese, fa. The Fossati brothers Gaspare 7 October 1809 5 September 1883 and Giuseppe 1822 1891 were Swiss architects They completed more than 50 projects in Turkey then the Ottoman Empire during the Tanzimat era They belonged to the Morcote branch of the Fossati a prominent Ticinese family with mentions in the historical record going back to the 14th century Gaspare is most noted for his renovation of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople which virtually saved it from destruction Gaspare FossatiGaspare Fossati s 1852 depiction of the Ayasofya Mosque which he and his brother renovated Lithograph by Louis HagheBorn7 October 1809Ticino SwitzerlandDied5 September 1883Morcote SwitzerlandNationalitySwissEducationBrera Academy MilanKnown forArchitectMovementOrientalistGiuseppe FossatiBorn1822Ticino SwitzerlandDied1891NationalitySwissEducationBrera Academy MilanKnown forArchitectMovementOrientalist Contents 1 Biography 2 Works in Constantinople 3 See also 4 References 5 Further readingBiography EditBorn in Ticino Gaspare and Giuseppe Fossati were born into a notable family of artisans from Morcote in the Ticino region Their ancestors included architects artists and engineers 1 The brothers finished primary and middle school in Venice and studied architecture at the Brera Academy in Milan During his period at the Academy Gaspare won many prizes Between 1829 and 1831 Gaspare produced many lithographs of Rome and produced a catalogue for Leon XII In around 1833 Gaspare began working for the architectural team of Luigi Rusca in Saint Petersburg and in 1837 he married Rusca s daughter Rusca had died in 1822 but his nephew carried on with Rusca s projects in Saint Petersburg 2 At the end of 1836 Gaspare was appointed to Constantinople modern day Istanbul becoming the official court architect and agreed to draw up plans for the Russian Embassy in Constantinople He recruited his brother in law Alessandro Rusca and his own 17 year old brother Giuseppe Fossati He set sail from Odessa arriving in Constantinople on 20 March 1837 The Fossati brothers time in Constantinople would mark the beginning of a very productiver period and Gaspare would enjoy a distinguished career there 3 Between 1841 and 1843 the Fossati brothers built the brick Bab i Seraskeri Hospital Bekiraga Bolugu and Liman Iskelesi Karakolu in Eminonu for the Ottoman Administration They were appointed to renovate Arzuodasi at Babiali in 1844 and to build important buildings in Sultanahmet such as Darulfunun university 1845 1846 Hazine i Evrak and Mekteb i Sanayi 1846 1848 They also built the Church of SS Peter and Paul between 1841 and 1843 4 In 1847 Sultan Abdulmecid appointed them to renovate the Hagia Sophia They completed the restoration in two years utilizing more than eight hundred workers They were able to document a larger number of Byzantine mosaics whose precise location within the Hagia Sophia today have not been fully documented since many were either painted over or destroyed often without recording their original location The drawings of the Hagia Sophia mosaics are kept in the Cantonal Archive of Ticino 5 Sultan Abdulmecid allowed the brothers to also document any mosaics they might discover during this process which were later archived in Swiss libraries 6 The Telgrafhane i Amire was built by Giuseppe Fossati in 1855 Upon the death of Resit Pasa in 1858 the Fossati brothers built his mausoleum in the corner of the graveyard in the Bayezit complex They also renovated Venedik Palace today the house of the Italian Ambassador in 1853 and the Dutch Embassy in Beyoglu in 1854 They built the Spanish 1854 and Iranian 1856 embassies in Istanbul and the Ottoman University adjacent to the Hagia Sophia In addition they built three Italian theaters One of them was the Naum Theatre which was built in Galatasaray in 1846 and destroyed by a fire in 1870 In 1858 the Fossati brothers returned to Switzerland They built their homes in Morcote in the Turkish style They are buried in Morcote Works in Constantinople EditRussian Embassy 1837 Darulfunun 1846 Hazine i Evrak Building 1846 Hagia Sophia restoration 1847 49 Bekir Aga Bolugu 1841 1843 now the Faculty of Political Sciences at Istanbul University Resid Pasa Palace 1847 Lamartine 1850 Old Darulfunun building 1854 Hunkar Dairesi 1855 now the Social Facility at Istanbul University Ottoman Ministry of General Education 1865 now the TGC Press Media Museum nbsp Consulate former embassy of Russia on Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul nbsp Consulate former embassy of the Netherlands on Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul nbsp TGC Press Media Museum in Cemberlitas Fatih former Ottoman Ministry of General Education See also EditList of Orientalist artists OrientalismReferences Edit Fossati in German French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland Gaspare Fossati di Morcote and his Brother Giuseppe in Environmental Design Presence of Italy in the Architecture of the Islamic Mediterranean by G Goodwin Gaspare Fossati di Morcote and his Brother Giuseppe in Environmental Design Presence of Italy in the Architecture of the Islamic Mediterranean by G Goodwin The Fossati brothers Turkish Culture Portal Monuments eternels ARTE Archived from the original on 2015 05 05 Retrieved 2016 02 06 Hagia Sophia Nova PBS program originally aired 2 25 2015Further reading EditGaspare Fossati in German French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fossati brothers amp oldid 1166715994, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
