Abdullah Brothers (Abdullah Frères)

Abdullah Brothers (Abdullah Frères) is a photographic studio established in the 19th century in the Ottoman capital Istanbul by three Armenian brothers named Vichen (Abdullah Şükrü Efendi), Kevork, and Hovsep. Known as the official photographers of the Ottoman court, the Abdullah Brothers practiced photography in the capital and produced portraits of sultans, state officials, and prominent families.

Jumu'ah Salutation at Hamidiye Camii, 1889–1902, Abdullah Brothers (Dilruba Kocaışık)

Foundation and Development

Vichen (1820–1902), Hovsep (1830–1908), and Kevork (1839–1918) were members of an Armenian family. Vichen, the first of the brothers to engage in photography, began working with the German artist Rabach after his arrival in Istanbul in 1856. After Rabach left Istanbul, Vichen took over the studio in 1858 and, together with his brothers, opened their first atelier in Pera (Beyoğlu) under the name “Vincent Abdullah Frères”.

Vichen, Hovsep and Kevork Brothers (Fatih Önen)

From 1861 onward, the studio began operating under the name “Abdullah Frères”. Initially, only the family members bearing Muslim names formally converted to Islam in exchange for patronage and favors.

Court Photography

The brothers gained proximity to the court during the reign of Sultan Abdülaziz and were granted the title “Ressam-ı Hazret-i Şehriyari” after photographing the sultan in 1863. This portrait, taken at the hunting pavilion in İzmit, was sent to Empress Augusta.

Portrait of Sultan Abdülaziz, 1863, Abdullah Brothers (Engin Özendes)

The Abdullah Brothers continued to undertake important commissions for the court during the reign of II. Abdülhamid. II. Abdülhamid conferred upon Vichen Abdullah the title “Serfotoğrafi Hazret-i Şehriyar-i”. One year after ascending the throne (1877), they compiled a photographic album containing cartes-de-visite portraits of members of the Meclis-i Mebûsan and the Meclis-i Âyan. The album includes portraits of 104 deputies, including the President of the Meclis-i Mebûsan Ahmed Vefik Paşa, and 20 members of the Meclis-i Âyan, including its President Server Paşa.

While renowned for portrait photography, the Abdullah Brothers also photographed urban landscapes, monuments, mosques, and palaces, documenting industrial structures and the state’s modernization projects.

Works and Exhibitions

Sergi-i Umumî-i Osmanî (1863)

Photographs by the Abdullah Brothers were displayed at the Sergi-i Umumî-i Osmanî held in 1863 at Sultanahmet Square. Their photographs were exhibited alongside products representing the empire’s manufacturing output.

Paris International Exhibition (1867)

A panorama they captured from the Beyazıt Seraskerlik Kulesi in 1865 was exhibited at the 1867 Paris Exhibition and received acclaim. Portraits of Ottoman state officials and photographs depicting clothing and professions were also displayed. Thanks to this exhibition, the Abdullah Brothers became among the first Ottoman photographers to gain recognition in Europe.

II. Abdülhamid Gift Albums

Among their most famous works are the photographs included in the II. Abdülhamid Gift Albums, sent to the Library of Congress in 1893 and the British Library in 1894. Approximately 80 percent of the photographs in these albums bear the signature of the Abdullah Brothers.

The albums contain images of Istanbul’s monuments, educational institutions, military installations, and industrial facilities, offering a visual inventory of the Ottoman Empire’s modernization and urbanization. These albums have become one of the principal sources for documenting the architectural and social life of 19th-century Istanbul.

Yıldız Sarayı Photographic Album Collection

The Yıldız Sarayı Photographic Album Collection, compiled during the reign of II. Abdülhamid, provides a systematic visual record of spaces, people, and landscapes across the empire’s central and provincial regions. Photographs taken by the Abdullah Brothers occupy a significant place within this collection.

Of the 51 albums and 1,819 photographs dated 1893 and presented as a gift by Sultan II. Abdülhamid, 35 albums and 1,291 photographs are attributed to the Abdullah Brothers. These albums cover themes such as military modernization, public services, healthcare facilities, educational buildings, industry, cityscapes, mosques, and tombs.

Large Bridge on the Hejaz Railway Line Between Amman and Maan, 1903, Abdullah Brothers (Erkan Çiçek)

Photography of Notables

The studio of the Abdullah Brothers became a destination for many prominent local and foreign figures of the era. Portraits of numerous monarchs and statesmen, including Empress Eugénie of France, Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany, Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, Shah Naser al-Din of Iran, and Ottoman sultans Abdülaziz, Murad V, and II. Abdülhamid, were taken by the Abdullah Brothers.

Cahor Governor Ebubekir, Abdullah Brothers (Büşra Cansız)

Artistic and Technical Characteristics

The photographs of the Abdullah Brothers combine the documentary tradition of architectural representation with artistic composition. Their panoramic views of Istanbul, detailed architectural shots, and group portraits stand out through technical sharpness and balanced lighting. Although the album printing technique required long exposure times, it produced high-resolution results.

The labels on photographs taken at the studio were printed in multiple languages, reflecting the multilingual nature of Ottoman society: Turkish, Greek, Armenian, and French.

A Photograph Taken by Abdullah Brothers and Its Backside with Studio Card (Fatih Önen)

Final Years

During the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, their close association with Russian generals displeased Sultan II. Abdülhamid, and their official court photographer titles were revoked. However, in subsequent years they regained favor and were again commissioned by the state for various tasks.

In 1886, at the invitation of the Khedive of Egypt, Tevfik Paşa, Kevork and Hovsep opened a branch in Cairo; however, this branch closed in 1895. The Istanbul studio gradually lost prominence after the Constitutional Era and became a third-class atelier in Beyoğlu.

As competition increased in the capital, the studio’s activity declined, and in 1899 the brothers transferred their entire equipment to Sebah and Joallier Studio. Vichen died in 1902, Hovsep in 1908, and Kevork in 1918.

Süleymaniye Camii, Abdullah Brothers (Ali Gözeller)

The Abdullah Brothers played a significant role in the institutionalization of Ottoman photography and its international recognition. Their visual productions are among the key sources documenting the transformation of Ottoman cities at the end of the 19th century. Today, some of the Abdullah Brothers’ works are preserved at the Rare Books Library of Istanbul University and the IRCICA Library.