Literature & Arts B-35
The Age of Süleyman the Magnificent: Art, Architecture, and Ceremonial at the Ottoman Court
Prof. Gülru Necipoğlu
Tu/Th 12:00-1:00
Spring 2006
______________________________________________________________________________________
February 7
Formation of an Islamic Capital and a New Imperial Image

Sultan Mehmed II (r. 1444-46; 1451-81), known as "the Conqueror" (Fatih)

Mese, ceremonial route of Byzantine Constantinople

Constantinople (in Ottoman: Konstantiniyya/Istanbul)

Parthenon, Athens, Ottoman mosque inserted by Mehmed II

Hagia Sophia, built in the 6th century by Justinian, converted into a Friday mosque
by Mehmed II

Eyüb, sanctuary and tomb complex of Arab martyr, extra-urban necropolis
Building Projects of Mehmed II

Old Palace

Fortress of Seven Towers (Yedikule)

New Palace (Topkapi Palace, 1459-79) next to the Hippodrome (Atmeydan) and
the Byzantine Great Palace

Fatih Mosque Complex (1463-70)
Literature & Arts B-35
The Age of Süleyman the Magnificent: Art, Architecture, and Ceremonial at the Ottoman Court
Prof. Gülru Necipoğlu
Tu/Th 12:00-1:00
Spring 2006
______________________________________________________________________________________
February 9
Court Ceremonial and Architectural Design: Public Spaces in the Topkapi Palace
Topkapi Palace:
The first court:
Imperial Gate (Bab-i Humayun)
Imperial Armory (Church of Saints, Irene)
Middle Gate
The second court:
Kitchens
Stables
Imperial Council (Divan-i Humayun) — hall of public audience
Tower of Justice
Gate of Felicity
The third court:
Chamber of Petitions — hall of private audience
Literature & Arts B-35
The Age of Süleyman the Magnificent: Art, Architecture, and Ceremonial at the Ottoman Court
Prof. Gülru Necipoğlu
Tu/Th 12:00-1:00
Spring 2006
______________________________________________________________________________________
February 14
The Sultan’s Private Residence in the Topkapi Palace
Topkapi Palace:
The third court:
Male Section:
School of Pages and White Eunuchs
Imperial Treasury
Privy Chamber of the Sultan (Chamber of the Holy Mantle)
Private Garden with Pavilions and Pool
Female Section: The Imperial Harem
Court of Black Eunuchs
Court of Concubines (with the four legal wives of the
Sultan)
Court of Queen Mothers
Bedchamber of the Sultan (by architect Sinan, built for
Murad III, 1579-80)
Literature & Arts B-35
The Age of Süleyman the Magnificent: Art, Architecture, and Ceremonial at the Ottoman Court
Prof. Gülru Necipoğlu
Tu/Th 12:00-1:00
Spring 2006
______________________________________________________________________________________
February 16
Ottoman Gardens and Garden Pavilions

Chinili Kiosk, Topkapi Palace, 1472

Revan Kiosk, Topkapi Palace 1630s

Baghdad Kiosk, Topkapi Palace 1630s

Shore Kiosk, Topkapi Palace, 1590s

Pearl Kiosk, Topkapi Palace, 1580s

Usküdar Palace, 1550s

Sultaniya (Imperial) Garden, first quarter of 16th c.

Fener (Lighthouse) Garden, second half of 16th c.

Suburban estate villa of Siyavus Pasha, 1580s (outside Istanbul land walls)

Yali (i.e., shore kiosk) of Amcazade Köprülü, Bosphorus, 1699

Shorehouses (yali, from Greek yalos meaning "shore")

Turkish town houses (konak)
Literature & Arts B-35
The Age of Süleyman the Magnificent: Art, Architecture, and Ceremonial at the Ottoman Court
Prof. Gülru Necipoğlu
Tu/Th 12:00-1:00
Spring 2006
______________________________________________________________________________________
February 21
Early Ottoman Mosque Complexes Prior to Sinan
T-shaped Multi-functional Convent Mosques
Iznik, Nilüfer Hatun Imaret, 1388
Bursa, Bayezid I Complex (Yildirim or “Thunderbolt”), 1390-95
Bursa, Green Mosque (Yesil Cami) of Mehmed I, 1412-19
Pre-Sinan Friday Mosques
Bursa, Ulu Cami (Great Mosque), Bayezid I, 1396-1400
Edirne, Uc Serefeli ("Triple-galleried") Mosque, Murad II, 1438-47
Istanbul, Mosque complex of Mehmed II, 1463-70
Literature & Arts B-35
The Age of Süleyman the Magnificent: Art, Architecture, and Ceremonial at the Ottoman Court
Prof. Gülru Necipoğlu
Tu/Th 12:00-1:00
Spring 2006
______________________________________________________________________________________
February 23
Sinan and the Ottoman Institution of Royal Architects
Mimar Sinan 1539-88
Chief architect under sultans Süleyman I, Selim II, and Murad III
Organization of Royal Architects’ Guild (Hassa Mimarlari)
Pre-Sinan Friday Mosques
Istanbul, Mosque complex of Bayezid II, 1501-7
Istanbul, Mosque complex of Selim I, 1522-28
Shehzade Mehmed Mosque Complex, Istanbul
Built by Süleyman I for his dead son, Prince Mehmed,
whose mother was Hürrem Sultan or Roxelana, 1543-48
Comparison: Istanbul, Bayzid II Mosque, 1501-7
Literature & Arts B-35
The Age of Süleyman the Magnificent: Art, Architecture, and Ceremonial at the Ottoman Court
Prof. Gülru Necipoğlu
Tu/Th 12:00-1:00
Spring 2006
______________________________________________________________________________________
February 28
Sinan and the Classical Style: The Süleymaniye Complex in Istanbul

Süleymaniye Complex, Istanbul, 1551-57, built for Süleyman I

Complex of Süleyman, Damascus, 1550s
March 2
The Selimiye Complex in Edirne

The Selimiye Complex in Edirne, 1568-74, built for Selim II

Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, 1609-17 (architect: Sinan’s student Mehmed
Agha)
Literature & Arts B-35
The Age of Süleyman the Magnificent: Art, Architecture, and Ceremonial at the Ottoman Court
Prof. Gülru Necipoğlu
Tu/Th 12:00-1:00
Spring 2006
______________________________________________________________________________________
March 7
Expression of Social Hierarchies in Mosque Complexes of the Ruling Elite

* Istanbul, Haseki Hürrem Sultan Complex, ca.1538-39 (Roxelana, Süleyman’s
wife)

* Istanbul, Mihrimah Mosque at Usküdar, 1540s (daughter of Süleyman, married
to Rüstem Pasha)

* Istanbul, Mihrimah Mosque at Edirnekapi, Sinan, 1562-65

* Istanbul, Rüstem Pasha Complex at Tahtakale, architect Sinan, ca.1562 (patron
Süleyman’s grand vezir and son-in-law, married to Princess Mihrimah)

Istanbul, Semsi Ahmed Pasha Complex at Usküdar, Sinan, 1580 (retired vezir–
governor under Murad III)

Istanbul, Ramazan Efendi Mosque, Sinan, 1586

Istanbul, Takkeci Ibrahim Agha Mosque, architect Davud Agha, 1592
* denotes monuments for which you are responsible
Literature & Arts B-35
The Age of Süleyman the Magnificent: Art, Architecture, and Ceremonial at the Ottoman Court
Prof. Gülru Necipoğlu
Tu/Th 12:00-1:00
Spring 2006
______________________________________________________________________________________
March 9
Architecture in the Ottoman Provinces: Center versus Periphery

Cyprus, Nicosia, Selimiye mosque (St. Sophia Gothic cathedral), 1330-1490

Pecs, Gazi Kasim Pasha Mosque, 1543-64

Mostar, Karagöz Mehmed Bey Mosque, 1560s

* Istanbul, Kadirga Limani, Mosque of Sokollu Mehmed Pasha (grand vezir
under Süleyman, Selim II and Murad III) and his royal wife Ismihan Sultan
(Daughter of Selim II) at Kadirga, Sinan, 1569-74

* Lüleburgaz (near Edirne), Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Complex, 1568-70

Dome of the Rock (Jerusalem), 691

* Damascus (present-day Syria), Süleymaniye Complex, 1556

Damascus, Sinan Pasha Complex, 1586-91

Bulaq, Cairo (present-day Egypt), Sinan Pasha Complex, 1571
* denotes monuments for which you are responsible
Literature & Arts B-35
The Age of Süleyman the Magnificent: Art, Architecture, and Ceremonial at the Ottoman Court
Prof. Gülru Necipoğlu
Tu/Th 12:00-1:00
Spring 2006
______________________________________________________________________________________
March 14
Imperial Architecture in Early Modern Courts: Comparing the Ottoman
and Safavid Empires
Capitals: Tabriz, Kazvin, Isfahan

Ardebil, Dynastic Shrine of Shaykh Safi (14th—17th century)

Mashhad, Shrine of Imam Riza (14th—17th century)

*Isfahan, Maydan-i Shah, 1590-95 (completed 1602)

*Isfahan, Masjid-i Shaykh Lutfullah, 1603-19

*Isfahan, Masjid-i Shah, 1611-38
* denotes monuments for which you are responsible
Terms: iwan
talar
mosaic tilework
haft rangi tilework (polychrome glaze)
Literature & Arts B-35
The Age of Süleyman the Magnificent: Art, Architecture, and Ceremonial at the Ottoman Court
Prof. Gülru Necipoğlu
Tu/Th 12:00-1:00
Spring 2006
______________________________________________________________________________________
March 16
Imperial Architecture in Early Modern Courts: Comparing the Ottoman
and Mughal Empires
Capitals
o
o
o
Agra
Delhi
Lahore
o
Fatehpur Sikri
o
o
Babur (1526-20)
Humayun (1530-56, with interruption during
control of Shir Shah Sur, 1540-55)
Akbar (1556-1605)
Jahangir (1605-27)
Shahjahan (1628-58)
Awrangzib (1658-1707)
Sub-capital
Rulers
o
o
o
o
Monuments
o
o
o
o
o
Delhi, Red Fort, Akbar and later
Fatehpur Sikri, Friday Mosque with tomb of
Salim Chishti, 1573-4, Akbar
*Delhi, Friday Mosque, 1650-56, Shahjahan
*Delhi, Humayun's Tomb, 1564-73
(comparison: Safavid Hasht Bihisht Palace,
Isfahan, 17th century)
*Agra, Taj Mahal, 1631-47, built by
Shahjahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal
* denotes monuments for which you are responsible
Literature & Arts B-35
The Age of Süleyman the Magnificent: Art, Architecture, and Ceremonial at the Ottoman Court
Prof. Gülru Necipoğlu
Tu/Th 12:00-1:00
Spring 2006
______________________________________________________________________________________
April 4
The Ottoman Court Workshops
Nakkashane: court scriptorium
Nakkash: court painter/designer/calligrapher
Ehl-i Hiref: court workshops (lit.: "the people of crafts")
Calligraphy
angular scripts (Kufic)
cursive scripts (nesih/naskh and sülüs/thuluth)
tughra: Sultan's monogram affixed to firmans or imperial orders
Ahmed Karahisari: famous Ottoman calligrapher who composed
the foundation inscription of the Süleymaniye Mosque
Hasan Karahisari: apprentice and adopted son of Ahmed
Karahisari; completed the Süleymaniye Mosque inscriptions and
designed those of the Selimiye in Edirne
Decorative Vocabulary of Illuminators (nakkash)
Traditional Timurid mode: consists of abstract vegetal scrolls popularly
known as arabesques (rumi), geometric interlaces (girih), and chinoiserie motifs (also
known as saz).
Saz style: represents a fantastic world filled with twisting leaves (saz), inhabited by
fantastic auspicious creatures such as phoenixes (senmurv or simurgh), four-legged
mythical animals (chilin), dragons, and angels (peri). Characterized by self-piercing
"suicidal" leaves and bold calligraphic lines. Shah Kulu: Ottoman illuminator associated
with the saz style
Ottoman floral style: a profusion of semi-naturalistic spring blossoms and flowers
(including roses, tulips, carnations, hyacinths, and blossoming trees). Kara Memi:
Ottoman illuminator associated with the floral style
Other popular chinoiserie motifs (Khatai or Cathayan): Chinese cloud bands and
çintemani (Chinese-inspired triple-dot motif with auspicious royal associations, often
combined with wavy lines to form panther-skin patterns)
Literature & Arts B-35
The Age of Süleyman the Magnificent: Art, Architecture, and Ceremonial at the Ottoman Court
Prof. Gülru Necipoğlu
Tu/Th 12:00-1:00
Spring 2006
______________________________________________________________________________________
April 6
Tiles and Textiles at the Ottoman Court

Polychrome glazed tiles (cuerda seca)

Underglaze painted tiles

Iznik tiles (Iznik: formerly Nicaea, center of Ottoman tile production)

So-called Golden Horn wares

So-called Damascus wares

Classical Iznik wares
Literature & Arts B-35
The Age of Süleyman the Magnificent: Art, Architecture, and Ceremonial at the Ottoman Court
Prof. Gülru Necipoğlu
Tu/Th 12:00-1:00
Spring 2006
______________________________________________________________________________________
April 18
The Birth of "Orientalism" and European depictions of the Ottoman
world
Artists invited to the court of Mehmed II (ca. 1479-81)




Gentile Bellini
Costanzo da Ferrara
Pinturicchio; Disputation of St. Catherine, Borgia Apartments, Vatican
Pius II at Ancona; Sienna Cathedral (1503-1508)
Mamluk world: 1490-1520


Gentile and Giovanni Bellini, St. Mark Preaching in Alexandria
Anonymous, Reception of Ambassador in Damascus
Istanbul during the reign of Süleyman







Daniel Hopfer, Süleyman on Horseback, 1520s
School of Titian, portraits of Süleyman, Budapest Museum
Titian, Ecce Homo, 1543
Eworth, Süleyman on Horseback, 1549
Pieter Coecke van Aelst (Flemish), in Istanbul 1532-33, woodcut frieze of seven
scenes published posthumously by his wife, 1553
Domenico de' Franceschi, Procession of Süleyman, ca.1563
Melchior Lorichs, in Istanbul in the late 1550s: ink panorama of Istanbul, prints
on the occasion of the Süleymaniye's inauguration, ink studies, portraits of
Süleyman
Popularization of the genre/costume albums

Nicolas de Nicolay, travelogue/costume album, Navigations et Pérégrinations en
la Turquie, first edition 1567

Cesare Vecellio, costume book, De gli Habiti antichi et moderni di diverse parti
del mondo, first edition Venice, 1590


Anonymous, Ottoman costume album, Wolfenbüttel, 1570s
Anonymous, Austrian Hapsburg costume albums, 1570s to 1590s
Literature & Arts B-35
The Age of Süleyman the Magnificent: Art, Architecture, and Ceremonial at the Ottoman Court
Prof. Gülru Necipoğlu
Tu/Th 12:00-1:00
Spring 2006
______________________________________________________________________________________
April 20
Official Portraiture: Synthesis of Eastern and Western Models

Gentile Bellini (in Mehmed's court 1479-81), medal and painted portrait of
Mehmed II

Constanzo da Ferrara (in Mehmed's court ca. 1478-79), medal of Mehmed II
(comparison: Pisanello medal of Byzantine Emperor John VIII Palaeogus, 1438)

Bertoldo di Giovanni (Florentine artist, medal for Mehmed II), medal of Mehmed
II ca. 1480-81

Bellini (attributed to), Gardner Scribe ca. 1479-81

Sinan Bey, portrait painter of Mehmed II, Freer Painter ca. 1479-81

Şiblizade Ahmed Bey (assistant of Sinan Bey), Portrait of Mehmed II with Rose,
1479-81

Nigari, known as Haydar Reis (portrait painter of Suleyman and Selim II)

Paolo Giovio (illustrated lives of Ottoman sultans up to Suleyman), 1577

Circle of Paolo Veronese, oil portraits from Osman I to Murad III, 1579

Nakkash Osman (portait album of Ottoman sultans prepared for Murad III):
Shemailname, 1579
Literature & Arts B-35
The Age of Süleyman the Magnificent: Art, Architecture, and Ceremonial at the Ottoman Court
Prof. Gülru Necipoğlu
Tu/Th 12:00-1:00
Spring 2006
______________________________________________________________________________________
 May 2
The Ottoman Self-Image in Historical Manuscript Painting: the
Süleymanname and Shahnama

Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdawsi: the Persian national epic composed in the
10th century by the poet Firdawsi; it deals with the semi-legendary wars between
Persian and Turkish rulers

The Houghton Shahnama: written and illustrated for the Safavid Shah Tahmasp
(ruled Iran at the time of Süleyman) in the second quarter of the 16th century. It
was given to the Ottoman court as a royal gift.

Shehnameci (literally "Shahnama writer"): a post first appointed by Süleyman to
the Persian author Arifi to compose Ottoman official histories in Persian verse
based on the model of Firdawsi's Shahnama.

Arifi: composed a five-volume Shahnama of the Ottoman family. The first
volume covers the creation of Adam and the ancient kings; the second is about the
rise of Islam; the third deals with the early Turkish empires and the Seljuqs; the
fourth is about the early Ottoman sultans; the fifth volume is dedicated to
Süleyman's deeds and is called the Süleymanname (completed in 1557 together
with the Süleymaniye complex built by Sinan).
Literature & Arts B-35
The Age of Süleyman the Magnificent: Art, Architecture, and Ceremonial at the Ottoman Court
Prof. Gülru Necipoğlu
Tu/Th 12:00-1:00
Spring 2006
______________________________________________________________________________________
May 4
The Formation of a Classical Ottoman Style in Manuscript Painting, the
Decorative Arts, and Architecture
Lokman: the official historian who succeeded Arifi and composed illustrated histories of
all the Ottoman sultans up to Murad III. (His works were ilustrated by
painters headed by Nakkash Osman.)
I. The Kiyafet'ül Insaniyye fi Shemail-i Osmaniyye, on the physiognomies
of the first twelve Ottoman sultans up to Murad III, with portraits by
Nakkash Osman (covered last week)
II. The Hünername (Book of Talents): the most famous of Lokman's
works. 2 volumes. Deals with the outstanding skills of the Ottoman sultans
up to Süleyman.
III. The Shahnamas of Suleyman I, Selim II and Murad III
IV. The Surname (Book of Festivals): describes the circumcision
festivities of Prince Mehmed III, the son of Murad III, which took place in
the Hippodrome in 1582.