Art outside the Capital
‘The farther from the capital, the more local colours you find despite the dominance of the palace ateliers.’
Like other empires, the Ottomans took their artistic taste to newly captured lands alongside their administrative and political systems. Through the ateliers established in the palace, the Ottomans dominated the artistic approach in the provinces over a vast geographical area. But another reality is that the farther you go from the capital, the more local colours you find despite the dominance of the palace ateliers.
Imitating the refined taste of the capital was what the Ottomans did with art in the provinces as well. Ottoman taste was reflected in works commissioned either directly by the palace or by the governors ruling the provinces in the name of the sultan. The work of local benefactors was in reasonable competition with the capital, but still distinguished works of art were accomplished.
Çakırağa Mansion

Hegira 13th century / AD 19th century
Ottoman
Birgi-Ödemiş, İzmir, Turkey
The wall paintings at Çakırağa exemplify those that spread out from the capital in the 18th century.