The Tortoise Trainer is a painting created by Osman Hamdi Bey in 1906. It is one of the artist’s most renowned works and is believed to offer an allegorical depiction of the modernization process of Ottoman society. Today, the painting is exhibited at the Pera Museum in Istanbul, Türkiye.

_{(The Tortoise Trainer painting - Pera Museum)}

Subject and Composition

The painting depicts a man dressed in Ottoman-era attire, observing tortoises while holding a ney (a reed flute) in his hand and carrying a nakkare (a type of percussion instrument) on his back. With his red robe and conical hat, the figure resembles an Ottoman dervish. The setting is a room on the upper floor of Bursa’s Green Mosque (Yeşil Cami). In the background, an Arabic inscription in calligraphy and a pitcher inside a niche can be seen.

The tortoises in the painting are depicted as they search for food on the ground. The posture and expression of the figure are often interpreted as evoking a sense of patience and waiting. Osman Hamdi Bey used himself as the model for the figure, making this painting a self-portrait.

Iconography and Allegory

The tortoises in the artwork have been interpreted in various ways. The most widely accepted interpretation suggests that they symbolize the segments of society that are resistant to change and difficult to educate. According to this view, the slow movements of the tortoises and the patient stance of the trainer represent the long process of education and social transformation.

The Arabic inscription in the painting reads:

"The cure for hearts is meeting the Beloved (Prophet Muhammad)."

The spatial elements in the painting demonstrate how Osman Hamdi Bey blended Western painting techniques with Ottoman cultural elements.

Creation Process

The first version of the painting was completed in 1906, and in 1907, the artist created a second version of the same composition. The second version was dedicated to Salih Münir Pasha, who was Osman Hamdi Bey’s son-in-law.

Exhibition and Current Location

The painting was first exhibited under the name "L’homme aux Tortues" (The Man with Tortoises) at the Salon exhibition of the Société des Artistes Français (French Artists’ Society) at the Grand Palais in Paris. Later, it appeared in catalogs under the title "Tortoises". Today, it is part of the Pera Museum collection in Istanbul, Türkiye.

_{(Osman Hamdi Bey - Pera Museum)}

The Artist and His Era

Osman Hamdi Bey (1842-1910) was an Ottoman painter, archaeologist, and museum director, playing a crucial role in the modernization of the Ottoman Empire. He was the founder of the Sanayi-i Nefise Mektebi (now the Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University) and served as the director of the İstanbul Archaeology Museum. His artistic style combines Western painting techniques with Ottoman cultural elements, making his work unique in Ottoman art history.