Exterieur van de Hagia Sophia te Istanbul c. 1875 - 1900

This black and white photograph, taken by the photography studio Maison Bonfils, captures the grandeur of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. The image, likely made between 1875 and 1900, showcases the iconic Byzantine basilica’s towering minarets and its impressive dome, which were added after the building was converted into a mosque in 1453. The photograph, now in the Rijksmuseum, provides a glimpse into the architectural history of the Hagia Sophia, a testament to the merging of religious and architectural styles over centuries.