Ernest Constans (Interior Minister of France, French Ambassador in Istanbul from 1898 to 1909, and close friend of Sultan Abdul-Hamid II); thence by descent to the present owner, great-grandson of the above

The canvas has not been lined. There is a thin horizontal line parallel to the upper edge, likely relating to the stretcher. Under ultraviolet a thin line of retouching is visible on the stem of the pear in the foreground and other scattered minor spots. This work is in good condition. Presented in its original frame.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Ahmet Ali, also known as Şeker Ahmet Pasha, is among the few Ottoman painters, alongside Osman Hamdy Bey and Halil Pasha, to adopt and use the French academic style of painting in his own country. Born in Üsküdar, he trained as a medic and a soldier, but from an early age displayed a talent and passion for painting. Sultan Abdülaziz liked his work and sponsored him to go to Paris to study under Gustave Boulanger (Hamdy Bey’s teacher) and Jean-Léon Gérôme (lot 6), where he had a one-man show of his oil paintings in 1869. He returned to Istanbul in 1871, where he distinguished himself in the army, and became Master of Ceremonies, or teşrifat naziri, to the Sultan, in which role he was instrumental in acquiring many paintings from France for the Palace. He was also a leading light of the art world, organising the first group exhibitions for Turkish artists, in 1873 and 1875.

While Hamdy Bey and Halil Pasha specialised in figural subjects, Ahmet Ali focused on the natural world, specialising in fruit and flower still lifes, animalier painting, and the landscapes of Turkey. His life and art reflect the experiences of many members of the Ottoman elite in the aftermath of the Tanzimat reform movement, who sought a better understanding of Western culture and to foster greater cultural exchange – in art, fashion, and ideas - between East and West. His own medium for doing so was through his paintings which, l𒊎ike Hamdy Bey, he imbued with a distinctively French flavour and signed in Latin, rather than Ottoman, script for his Western clientele.