Depictions of Istanbul from the 16th century to the present have held a significant place in Turkish miniature painting art. Istanbul's panoramic landscapes and miniatures depicting specific regions of the city, found particularly in cartographic manuscripts, Ottoman illustrated books and albums, reflect the different artistic approaches, aesthetic understandings, and painting techniques of the miniaturists of the period. Drawing inspiration from this historical accumulation, miniature painting studies continue today in academic and artistic platforms. Especially since the beginning of the 21st century, the number of artists working on miniature painting has been increasing. Some artists working in the field of contemporary art also produce innovative works inspired by the traditional miniature heritage.

Due to the fact that a large portion of artists reside in the Istanbul metropolis and the city carries both historical richness and global brand value, Istanbul creates a strong influence on artists, resulting in the production of original Istanbul depictions. The influence of artworks that have survived from past-period artists on Contemporary Turkish miniature art and how these influences can be evaluated more effectively in the future constitute the main research subject of this study.

This thesis aims to identify Istanbul depictions and partial city portrayals in Ottoman painting history, examine their reflections on today's miniature art and contemporary Turkish painting, and provide new perspectives to future generations of artists. In this context, in this research covering a broad historical period, Istanbul depictions in Ottoman miniature paintings were examined in light of chronological, iconographic, and qualitative research methods along with applied technical analyses. Additionally, the researcher's own artistic practices were included in the study, with the aim of producing new works in line with this concept. In the preparation of the thesis, comprehensive literature and visual sources were reviewed, and qualitative research and systematic artwork analysis methods were used.

In conclusion, this thesis presents the diversification and development process of Istanbul depictions and partial city portrayals in Ottoman painting history; it identifies how this accumulation is reflected in today's miniature art and contemporary Turkish painting. It has also been scientifically demonstrated that these reflections offer new perspectives and creative possibilities to future artists.