Sunday, July 25, 2021

The upper floor’s vestibule is mostly decorated with historical paintings. Four of these paintings merit a special mention. They are copperplate engravings made by R. Paton, a French painter, which refer to the historical events also known as “The Orlofika”. This naval battle was led by Orloff, a Russian admiral, against the Turks in the straight of Ceşme in 1770.

All other paintings are oil paintings and copperplate engravings also inspired by naval battles led against the pirates who pillaged the islands of the Aegean Sea during the 18th and the 19th century. Above the doorframes leading to Rooms B, C and D, are 6 paintings inspired by the 1822 massacre of Chios. These are oil paintings (two are copies of the Eugène Delacroix’ famous Massacre de Chios) and a Delacroix’ lithography.