Topkapi Palace

A floor plan of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.  This was once known as the main Harem of the Turkish Sultan, however it was also a fortress that served many purposes.  From this location, all state business was conducted: running schools, hosting ambassadors, the physicians, the treasury, and the primary guard trainings.   Original is ink and illustration marker on watercolor paper, 22 x 30. Prints are available at full size, as well as scaled down to traditional sizes for ease of framing.

Note: If printed in smaller sizes, words may not be readable.

I love old palaces, but it turns out that I deeply dislike drawing them.  So many tiny boxes!  Palaces and castles are simply absurd if you think of them in terms of tiny boxes. For the border, I envisioned a design based  on the intricate tile work that exists in this palace, and so, once again, I let myself go down a trail of terrible geometry.  One day I will learn my lesson. The middle border pattern looks like ladies in compromising positions? Weird coincidence, that.