Gaspare Fossati (1809-1883) and his brother Giuseppe Fossati (1822-1891), were born in Switzerland to a family of architects. They studied in Venice and Milan. Until 1833 Gaspare had studied several specimens of Romanic and Renaissance architecture. He participated in the excavations in Pompey, and subsequently travelled to Russia, where he was soon appointed official architect to the Czar's court in Saint Petersburg, and was entrusted with designing the Russian embassy in Istanbul. In Istanbul, Gaspare and his brother Giuseppe, together with other Italian and local architects, worked in more than fifty works, mainly public Ottoman buildings, in the context of the reformation period (Tanzimat).

In 1847 Sultan Abdülmecid entrusted the Fossati brothers with the conservation and restoration of Haghia Sophia, as the monument had not been repaired in centuries. Works in Hagia Sophia lasted two years. More than eight hundreds men worked to reinforce the dome and surrounding semi-domes, cleaned the mosaics, replaced the chandeliers, and renovated the mihrab and the mimbar. Also, the huge circular tables with calligraphic elements were added to the four pillars.

During their stay in Istanbul the Fossati brothers designed several foreign embassis (Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Persia), two Italian theatres and many houses of Ottoman officials and foreign merchants. After the death of their patron Vizier Reşid Pasha, the Fossati brothers returned to Switzerland in 1858. They built their home in Ottoman style. Gaspare moved to Milan in 1862. Among other projects, he designed Duomo Square, Galleria Vitoria Emmanuelle II and Palazzo Marino.

The Fossati brothers published this edition in London in 1852, after the conclusion of the works and the magnificent inauguration of Hagia Sophia on 13th July 1849. It includes a series of lithographs with impressive views of the monument's interior, which had been used as a mosque since 1453. The introduction contains an overview of the architectural stages of the building, and the lithographs are signed by Louis Haghe.

Written by Ioli Vingopoulou

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  Title page.

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  Fig. 1. Plan of the upper gallery of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. Fig. 2. Plan of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.

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  View of the exonarthex of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.

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  View of the esonarthex of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.

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  View of the central nave of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, looking eastwards.

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  View of the central nave of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.

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  View of the north nave of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. On the right one of the two lustration urns from Pergamon, transferred to the temple during the reign of Sultan Murat III.

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  View of the central nave of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, from the north nave.

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  View of the north nave of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. In the background the esonarthex. On the left the Grand Vizier praying.

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  View of the imperial tribune in Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. This tribune stood between the mihrab and the Columns from Ephesus, which were transferred to the imperial capital during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I.

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  View of the imperial tribune in Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. This tribune stood between the mihrab and the Columns from Ephesus, which were transferred to the imperial capital during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I.

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  Hagia Sophia in Istanbul: View of the upper gallery from the north-west.

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  Hagia Sophia in Istanbul: View of the upper gallery from the south-west.

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  Hagia Sophia in Istanbul: View of the upper gallery from the south-west.

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  Hagia Sophia in Istanbul: View of the western part of the upper gallery, where the throne of the Byzantine Emperor once stood.

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  Hagia Sophia in Istanbul: View of the upper gallery from the east.

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  View of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul from the north-west. On the right the fountain of Sultan Mahmut I.

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  View of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. On the right the Madrasa  of Mahmut I.

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  View of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. On the left the Fountain of Sultan Ahment III. In the background the Mosque of Sultan Ahmet I, the Byzantine walls of the city and the Sea of Marmara.

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  View of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. On the right the street passing in front of the Sublime Porte.

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  Views of the mausoleums of Sultans Murat III, Selim I, Mehmet III and Mustafa I in Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.

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  Panoramic view of the Seraglio Point from one of the minarets of Hagia Sophia. On the left the University of Abdülmecid. In the background the Mosque of Sultan Ahmet I, the Obelisks of the Hippodrome of Constantinople and the Sea of Marmara. 

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  Panoramic view of Istanbul from one of the minarets of Hagia Sophia. On the right part of the Topkapi Palace. In the background the mosques of Sultan Suleiman I and Mehmet II.

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  Panoramic view of the Topkapi Palace from one of the minarets of Hagia Sophia. In the foreground the first courtyard of the palace with Hagia Irene on the left. In the background the Gate of Salutation, the Tower of Justice, the Divan and the imperial kitchens.

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  Panoramic view of Topkapi Palace from one of the minarets of Hagia Sophia. In the foreground the Fountain of Sultan Ahmed III. In the background Prince islands.

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  View of the central nave of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, right after its reconstruction by the Fossati brothers in 1847.

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  View of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, right after its reconstruction by the Fossati brothers in 1847.