A pair of harbour scenes of Valetta, Malta and Constantinople (Istambul) by Anton Schoth. The first painting depicts a view of Valetta harbour with its famous fortifications. In the foreground, a group of figures can be seen beside fishing boats on the shore, whilst a passenger ship is shown sailing out of the harbour. The second painting shows the harbour at Istambul which was originally called Constantinople at the time of this painting. A group of fishing boats with figures are shown in the foreground with other larger ships nearby. In the distance can be seen the distinctive architecture of the Yeni Camii Mosque, alongside other buildings of the city.

Anton Schoth or Captain Anton Schoth was one of the many pseudonyms of Karl Kaufmann. Karl Kaufmann was born in Neuplachowitz, Austria in 1843. He studied at the Vienna Academy of Art and after completing his education travelled throughout Europe to paint scenes in Germany, Italy, Norway and the Netherlands. He began to specialise in landscapes, architectural and marine paintings and developed a feeling for atmosphere in his works. He also visited Venice and Istanbul on a number of occasions and there started to produce Venetian and Oriental scenes for which he has become best known.

Another remarkable feature of his paintings is that he often signed his work with a pseudonym and had over 30 that he would use including: ‘L. Bertini', ‘Henri Carnier’, 'C. Charpentier‘, ‘F. Gilbert’, ‘ J. Holmstedt’, ‘B. Lambert', 'Charles Marchand', ‘E. Perla’, ‘K. Naruk’, ‘F. Rodek’, ‘J. Rollin’, ‘K. Schwartz’, ‘Theodore Walter’, ‘ L Voigt’ and many more. Pseudonyms were often used by an artist avoid conflict with galleries they were commissioned to work for. They were also used when an artist was living and working in another country. Kaufmann died in Vienna on 27 April, 1905. Examples of his works can be found in public collections including the Russell-Coates Museum and Historic Waco Foundation, Texas.

© Benton Fine Art