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Their names were, Kevork, Vichen, Hovsep
Abdullah. They were Armenian originated Ottomans. They were the pioneers of the Ottoman
photography. The most famous of the brothers, Kevork Abdullah (1839-1918) went to Italy
and educated in Mourat-Raphael School. In 1858, he returned to Istanbul and opened a
photograph studio. To improve their talents and knowledge he and his brother Vichen
(death-1912) went to Paris twice. In 1867, they joined the Second International Paris
Exhibition with their Istanbul photographs. Sultan Abdulaziz appointed them as the palace
photographers. They were dismissed because of their connection to Russian
commander-in-chief Nikola whom advanced to Yesilkoy (Istanbul) in 1878. In 1886, Kevork
was invited to Egypt and stayed there for nine years. In 1895, he sold his studio.
The Abdullah brothers played an
important role in the birth of Turkish photography. They
reflected political, social events, architectural monuments and natural beauties in
their photographs. |
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