The Tortoise Trainer
Osman Hamdi Bey Β· 1906
Why it's great
An elderly man in colorful robes plays a flute, hoping to teach a group of tortoises. They creep along with little interest. Osman Hamdi Bey's painting is thought by many to be a gentle joke about how slowly people accept change. It's the most famous painting from Turkey and sold for a record price in 2004.
π Look closer!
How many tortoises can you count? Are they listening?
Where to see it
π Pera MuseumIstanbul, Turkey
Open in Maps βHang it on your wall
Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
Osman Hamdi Bey was born in Istanbul, in the Ottoman Empire, and studied painting in Paris. He was also an archaeologist and founded Istanbul's first modern art school and archaeological museum. His paintings show scenes of Ottoman life with great detail. He died in 1910 and is honored as a pioneer of Turkish art.
