Book review

TURKISH ART OF ILLUMINATION

The book „Turkish Art of Illumination” represents a brilliant review of the representative samples of the Ottomans arts of illumination and calligraphy, which are placed within the library collections of the Istanbul mosques.

Very little has been known about those manuscripts, so this is the opportunity that a larger reading audience would get to know about them. As inidcated in the introduction, the book represents the first such presentation of the Ottomans illumination. In this issue, we can see numerous illustrations which reveal all the beauty of the Ottomans illumination. The book is mainly consisted of the works from the 16th century, that is from the period when the Ottomans arts had been on its peak. The richness of calligraphy, ornamentics, the diversity of compositions and the fascinating local colours can’t leave anyone indifferent.

The detailed introduction of the book reveals the secrets of this art and describes its stylish characteristics.

The chapters that describe some styles in terms are particularly valuable, such as the position of the individual illumination within the manuscripts, or general description of the division of ornamentics to that one of „rumi” and „hatai“ style.

The book also comprises the works of the legendary calligraphers and illuminators. One of them was Yakut el Mustasimi, who was the restorer of the Arabic calligraphy and whose reforms had an enormous influence on the later development of this arts. The works of famous illuminator Karamemi, who in that kind of art introduced some new naturalistic flower motives had also a great influence.

The rest of the article you can read in the magazine.