"The Qur'an was revealed in Mecca, read in Egypt and written in Istanbul"

MUSTAFA IZZET: "Vesarizade" (d. 1849)

Calligraphic Writing by İzzet in Jeli Thuluth,1263H(1847),"And to Allah I commit my case: Verily, Allah beholdeth his servants."

Mustafa Izzet was the son of the great master of calligraphy Esad Yesari. His date of birth is uncertain. He learned the art of calligraphy from his father, from whom he also received his icazet. He wrote a very beautiful Ta'Iiq script. Very fine inscriptions by Mustafa Izzet are to be seen on a large number of mosques, tombs, fountains and other public buildings in Istanbul. The great calligrapher All Haydar Bey was one of his pupils.
He died in 1266 H. and was buried in the cemetery at Gelenbevi.

MUSTAFA VASIF: (d. 1852)

Hilye-i Serife by the Calligrapher Mustafa Vasıf in Muhakkak, Thuluth, and Naskhi. 1286H(1820).

Mustafa Vasif was a native of Kastamonu. He came to Istanbul at an early age and began to study Thuluth and Naskhi under the calligrapher Gebecizade Mehmed Effendi. His teacher gave him the nickname "Comez" (theology student who served his master in return for board and tuition) by which he was commonly known. Kazasker Mustafa Izzet Effendi was one of the most outstanding of his pupils. He died in 1269 H. and was buried in Eyup.

NAZIF BEY: "Mehmed Nazif" (1846 - 1914)

A Panel in Jeli Thuluth by Mehmet Nazif

Mehmed Nazif Bey was a native of Ruscuk, and was born in 1262 H. He entered the Saray school at an early age, and there he learned the art of calligraphy from Vahdeti Effendi of Burdur, a pupil of Abdullah Zühdü. He later studied Ta'Iiq under Sami Effendi, from whom he received his icazet.
After leaving the Saray school he spent many years as calligrapher in the Cartography Department of the Erkan-i Harbiye-i Umumiye (Army General Staff).He had a very fine command of Thuluth, Jeli and Naskhi, and displayed great skill in the use of Ta'Iiq.
Nazif Bey died in 1331 H. and was buried in the graveyard belonging to the Yahya Effendi Dergah (dervish convent) in Besiktas.

NECMEDDiN OKYAY: (1883 - 1876)

An Exquisite Calligraphic Panel in Jeli Thuluth by Necmeddin Okyay.1351H(1932),"Oh Prophet of Allah, I call on Thee in my defence."

Necmeddin Okyay was born in 1300 H. in Usküdar. He received his icazet in Divani script from Talat Bey, teacher of writing in the Ravzai Terakki School in Usküdar, and his icazet in Thuluth and Naskhi from Bakkal Arif Effendi. He also took lessons in Ta'liq and Jeli from the great calligrapher Sami Effendi. He was appointed imam in the Yeni Mosque in Usküdar, and remained in this post for many years. Necmeddin Effendi introduced a number of improvements in the writing of Ta'Iiq and Jeli Ta'Iiq, of which he was one of the finest masters. He also displayed great skill in Ebru (marbling) and in the binding and repair of old Turkish books. He was the inventor of an original type of Ebru containing floral motifs and writing. He held teaching posts in the Medresetül Hattatin (school of Calligraphy), the Sark Tezyini Sanatlar Mektebi (School of Oriental Decorative Arts) and the Academy of Fine Arts.
He died in 1396 H. (1976) at the age in ninety-three and was buried in the cemetery of Karacaahmet.

OSMAN EFFENDI: "Hafiz Osman" (1642 - 1698)
Osman Effendi was born in Istanbul. He studied calligraphy under the master calligrapher Dervish All and later under Suyolcuzade Eyyubi Mustafa Effendi, from whom he received his icazet. Hafiz Osman was a brilliant calligrapher who succeeded in investing the script originally employed by Sheikh Hamdullah with a new elegance, and thus became known as "Seyh-i Sani", the second Sheikh. He had a large number of pupils, one of the most outstanding being the calligrapher Ismail bin All Agakapi. He died in 1110 H. and was buried in the graveyard belonging to the Sünbül Effendi Dergah (dervish convent) in Kocamustafa.

RAKIM: 'Mustafa Rakim" (1757 - 1826)

Inscription by Rakım in the form of a Tughra.Between the Legs of Tughra,"I take refuge in Allah", Within the Tughra,"We created all living things from water."

Mustafa Rakim occupies a most important place in the history of Turkish calligraphy. He was born in Unye in 1171 H. His elder brother was the famous calligrapher small Zühdü, who brought Mustafa to Istanbul while still a small child. Rakim learned the art of calligraphy from Ahmet Hifzi Effendi of Fethiye and his brother small Zühdü, and received his icazet at the age of twelve. He was also a painter. He was appointed teacher of calligraphy in the Saray school, one of his pupils there being Sultan Mahmud II, who accorded him very great praise and appreciation.
He had a very distinctive style in Jeli Thuluth, remarkable for its softness, elegance and movement. His works are greatly admired by calligraphers and connoisseurs of the art. His compositions include the frieze inscription in the Nusretiye Mosque at Tophane and the inscriptions on the tomb and fountain of Mahmud Ii's mother Naksidil Sultan. The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts contains a very fine Hilye.
Mustafa Rakim was responsible for the definitive form acquired by the tughra, or Imperial monogram. The form of the tughra he composed for Mahmud II was adopted by all succeeding Sultans, changes being made only in the actual name from which the tughra was composed. The tughras to be seen on late Ottoman coins and on the fermans of the later Sultans were all in the form composed by Rakim. He was also responsible for a number of Ta'Iiq inscriptions on fountains and tombstones.
He died in 1241 H. and was buried near the Atik All Mosque in Karagümrük. His wife had a tomb built over his grave and a medrese constructed beside it.

RIZA: "Hasan Riza' (1849 - 1920)
Hasan Riza was born in Usküdar in 1265 H. He earned the art of calligraphy from Yahya Hilmi Effendi, one of the secretaries in the Ministry of War, and later from Sefik Bey, from whom he received his icazet. He was one of the most prolific of Turkish calligraphers. He produced nineteen copies of the Qur'an as well as a large number of Hilyes, Kit'as and Murak'kas. He held the post of Imperial main and teacher of calligraphy. He also worked as a teacher of Thuluth and Naskhi in the Medrese-tul Hattatin. He died in 1338 H. and was buried in the cemetery at Rumeli Hisar. His Naskhi script was particularly beautiful.

RECAI: "Mehmed Recai Effendi" (1803 - 1874)

Inscription in the form of a Tughra by Recai with Superimposed Thuluth in the Upper Right Hand Corner and the Section Declaring Muhammed the Prophet of Allah forming the Tughra itself."There is no God but Allah and Muhammed is His Prophet."

Recai Effendi was born at Sütlüce in Istanbul in 1218 H. He learned Thuluth and Naskhi from Mehmed Effendi of Filibe and was awarded his icazet at the age of thirteen. Recai Effendi was the father of the poet and writer Recaizade Ekrem Bey and the grandfather of the writer Ercümend Ekrem Talu. Recai Effendi held a number of government posts. He died in 1291 H. and was buried in the cemetery at Eyup.

RUSDU: "Emin Rusdu Effendi"
His dates of birth and death are uncertain, but there is an entry in the "Son Hattatlar" (Last Calligraphers) indicating that he received is icazet from Mahmud Pad Effendi. The En'am in the Sabanci Collection proves him to have a calligrapher of distinction.

SAMI EFFENDI: (1837 - 1914)

An Exquisite Ta'liq Panel Written by Mehmet Sami in 1309H(1891),"I have sunk in the sea of rebellion, I take refuge, Oh Prophet of Allah, in Thee."

An exquisite Calligraphic Inscription in Ta'liq Script by Sami Effendi dated 1318H,(1900),"Allah is the highest hears and knows all.",This is to be found in various verses of the Qu'ran.

Verses of Qur'an by Calligrapher Sami Efendi. Calligraphic inscription in "Superimposed Thuluth" by the calligrapher Sami Efendi. "He is God. There is no god but Allah. Muhammed is His Prophet." Dated 1897

Tughra Dated 1298H(1881) by the Tughrakesh Sami Effendi,"My Abdülhamid han, son of Abdülmecid, be always victorious."

An Exquisite Ta'liq Inscription by Sami, 1319H(1901),"He who earns is the beloved of Allah."

Inscription in "Superimposed" Thuluth by the Calligrapher Seyyit Mehmet Sami,"Say: He is Allah alone. Allah the eternal. He begetsth not, and He is not begotten; And there is none like unto Him."

Sami Effendi was born in Istanbul in 1253 H. He was the son of Mahmud Effendi the Yorgancilar Kethüdasi (Head of the Quilt-Makers). He learned Ta'Iiq from Kibrisizade Ismail Hakki Effendi and All Haydar Bey, and Thuluth from Bosnak Osman Effendi; In Jeli script he was a close follower of Mustafa Rakim, whom he rivaled in excellence.
A number of fine very inscriptions and istifs by this calligrapher can be seen on various mosques, fountains, etc. in Istanbul. He trained some very fine calligraphers, including Necmeddin Effendi and Kamil (Akdik) Effendi. He died in 1330 H. and was buried in the cemetery belonging to the Fatih Mosque.

SEFiK BEY: (1819 - 1880)

Inscription in Jeli Thuluth by Şefik bey, 1869, "Oh Lord Mevlana, may his great secret be holy"

A beautiful Calligraphy by Şefik Bey

Prayer 1251H(1835),"By the Sun and his noonday brightness!By the Moon when she followeth him! By the Day when it revealth his glory! By the Night when it enshroudeth him! By the Heaven and him who built it! By the Earth and Him who spread it forth!"

Calligraphic Writing by Mehmet Şefik Bey in Jeli Thuluth, 1275H(1858),"O Allah, cover our shame and purify our hearts. May Allah the compassionate protect Muhammed, Prophet and Defender of the Faithful, and his disciples and companions."

Sefik Bey was born in Besiktas in Istanbul in 1235 H. He began to study calligraphy with Ali Vasfi Effendi and, after the death of his father, continued his studies with the greatest calligrapher of the time, Kazasker Mustafa Izzet Effendi. He was later appointed teacher of calligraphy to the officiais in the Saray. Sultan Abdulmecid sent him, together with the calligrapher Abdulfettah Effendi, to Bursa to repair the inscriptions in the UIu Djami, which had been severely damaged in the earthquake of 1855. During the three years he spent on these repairs he also wrote a numoer of very fine inscriptions in other mosques.
Sefik Bey was a very fine calligrapher who composed some very beautiful pieces in Thuluth, Jeli, Naskhi and Divani scripts. The ayets on each side of the "Daire-i Umuru Askeriyye" above the main entrance of the central building of the University in Beyazid and the inscriptions in the UIu Djami in Bursa are to be reckoned amongst his finest works.
He died in 1297 H. and was buried in the Yahya Effendi cemetery in Besiktas. 

SEVKI: "Mehmed Sevki Effendi" (1828- 1887)
Mehmed Sevki Effendi was born in Kastamonu in 1245 H. He was brought to Istanbul at a very early age and learned Thuluth and Naskhi from his uncle Hulusi Effendi. He received his icazet at the age of fourteen. In spite of his teachers insistence he refused to continue his studies with any other teacher and confined his further studies to an examination of the calligraphic models prepared by Kazasker Mustafa Izzet Effendi. He taught Hüsnü Hat (penmanship) in the Ministry of War and in a number of schools. In Naskhi script he adopted the style of Hafiz Osman and small Zühdü while in Thuluth and Jeli he followed Mustafa Rakim. He left a number of very fine pieces, most of them istifs. He was one of finest exponents of the Hatti icaze.
He died in 1304 H. and was buried in the Merkez Effendi cemetery. 

TAHSiN: "Hasan Tahsin Hilmi" (1847 - 1914)

This jeli Thuluth Inscription Was Written by the Calligrapher Hafız Tahsin in 1310H(1892)

A Thuluth Inscription by the Calligrapher Tahsin 1314H(1896)

Tahsin Hilmi was born at Tophane in Istanbul in 1263 H. He learned Thuluth and Naskhi from Sefik Bey and Ta'Iiq from Sami Effendi. He held the post of teacher of penmanship in various school in Istanbul, including the Kiz Muallim Mektebi (Teacher Training School for Girls), and the Darüssafaka and Galatasaray Lycees.
He died in 1330 H. and was buried in the cemetery at Eyup.

VASFI: "Gebecizade Mehmed Vasfi"
Mehmed Vasfi was a teacher in the Palace's school and widely known by the cognomen Gebecizade". The date of his birth is uncertain, but he is known to have learned the art of calligraphy from Ebubekir Rasid Effendi and to have received his icazet in 1181 H. He was a teacher of calligraphy to Mahmud II.
He was a very prolific calligrapher and wrote twenty copies of the Qur'an, a large number of Delails and En'ams, over two hundred Hilyes and a large number of Murak'kas and Kit'as. He had a great many pupils, including a number of outstanding calligraphers such as Ata Effendi, Mustafa Effendi, Vasif Effendi and Eyyubi Mehmed Rasid Effendi.
He died in 1231 H. and was buried in the graveyard of the Mercan Mosque. 

YAHYA HILMI: (1833 - 1909)
Yahya Hilmi was born in Istanbul in 1249 H. He learned the art of calligraphy from Hasim Effendi, a pupil of Rakim, and Halil Zühdi Effendi. His Thuluth, and more particularly his Naskhi, were remarkable for their perfection of style and attractive appearance. The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts contains a very large-scale Qur'an. He was a very rapid writer.
This great calligrapher died in 1325 H. and was buried in the graveyard of Süleymaniye Mosque.

YAHYA FAHREDDIN:
Yahya Fahreddin was born in Istanbul and was generally known as Sari Yahya (Yahya the Fair) of Tophane. He was the son of one Osman Effendi. His date of birth is uncertain, but he is known to have learned the art of calligraphy from Anbarizade Dervis Ali and to have continued his studies after the death of his teacher with Hüseyin Habli Effendi, from whom he received his wet in 1138 H.
He wrote fifteen copies of the Qur'an and was responsible for the inscriptions over the doors of the Nuruosmaniye Mosque. He died in 1169 H. and was buried opposite the Sheikh Murad tekke in Eyup.

YESARI: "Mehmed Esad Yesari" (d. 1798)

An Exquisite Jeli Ta'liq Inscription by Mehmet Es'ad el-Yesari,1192H(1779),"Let man pay heed to the reason for his creation."

Mehmed Esad Yesari was a native of Istanbul. He was born paralysed down the right hand side of his body, which gave rise to the nickname "Yesari" (left-handed). He learned the art of calligraphy from the master of Ta'Iiq script Mehmed Dedezade and very quickly gained his icazet. (1167 H.).
He trained a considerable number of pupils and his writings and inscriptions are to be seen on many mosques, tombs, fountains, imarets, etc. in Istanbul. His son Musfafa Izzet Effendi was, like his father, a master of Ta'liq script.
He died in 1213 H. and was buried in the vicinity of the Fatih Mosque. 

YUSUF: 'Demirci Kulu"
Yusuf was a native of Istanbul. He was born in the district of Tophane but his date of birth is uncertain. He was the slave of Demirci Agha, who cast the metal for the cannons in the foundry belonging to the Corps of Janissaries, and was thus generally known as 'Demirci KuIu' (save of the iron-worker).
He learned the art of calligraphy from Dervish Mehmed Celebi, a pupil of Ahmet Karahisari, and from Abdullah Kirimi. He was responsible for the Jeli inscriptions in the mosque built by the famous Turkish seaman and Admiral Kilic All Pasha at Tophane. The date of his death is given in the Tuhfe-i Hattatin as 1020 H., and in the Hattatlar silsilesi by Gebecizade Mehmed Vasfi Effendi as 1018 H. He is buried in the cemetery belonging to the Karabas tekke (dervish lodge) at Tophane.

YUSUF: "Court tutor Hafiz Yusuf" (d. 1783)
Hafiz Yusuf was born in Anatolia but migrated to Istanbul. He was keenly interested in calligraphy and received his icazet from Ibrahim Rodosi. He learned the niceties of the art of calligraphy from Hoca Mehmet Rasim Effendi of Egrikapi, and was appointed teacher in Galatasaray Lycee.
He died in 1201 H.

ZIYA: 'Ahmed Ziya" (1869 - 1938)
Ahmed Ziya was born in Istanbul in 1286 H. He studied in Kuleli Military School and in the Military Academy from which he graduated as an officer. He learned Thuluth and Naskhi from Hulusi Effendi, a pupil of Sevki, and Jeli Thuluth from Sami Effendi. He was also a graduate of the Sanayi-i Nefise (Academy of Fine Arts), which he entered in 1309 H. He was a good painter. He also studied ilmi nucum (astronomy). He was appointed muvakkit (time-Keeper) in the Muvakkithane of Eyup Mosque. He ater taught mathematics, cosmography and mechanics in the Halicioglu Military Lycee.
This distinguished calligrapher, painter and scholar died in 1357 H. and was buried in the cemetery at Silivrikapi.

ZUHDI: lsmail Zühdi" (d. 1806)

An Inscription Calligraphic dated 1271 by Zuhdi

Ismail Zühdi was a native of Unye and the elder brother of the calligrapher Mustafa Rakim. He learned Thuluth and Naskhi from Ahmet Hifzi Effendi of Fethiye, from whom he received his icazet. He was appointee Court tutor in calligraphy and trained a large number of pupis, the most distinguished of these being his own brother Mustafa Rakim.
He died in 1221 H. and was buried in the cemetery at Eyup.

GLOSSARY OF CERTAIN TERMS APPEARING IN THE TEXT

AYET :One of the sentences composing the Suras in the Qur'an.
CUZ :One of the thirty equal sections into which the Qur'an is divided.
DELAIL :A book containing ayets, hadiths and prayers. Some of these books contain miniatures depicting the Kaaba and the tomo of the Propnet at Medina.
EN'AM :A small book containing the Enam Sura, the sixth sura of the Qur'an, together with several prayers.
HILYE :The name given to a calligraphic composition set within a definite frame and describing the features and qualities of the Prophet in accordance with the tradition handed down by All.
ICAZET :The diploma awarded by the teacher to a student of calligraphy. This was awarded after the examination of a piece of calligraphy written by the student in the presence of several teachers of the art. A student could not sign his work until he had received his icazet.
ISTIF :A highly complex calligraphic composition in which the letters composing the words are arranged one on top of the other.
KARALAMA: This is the name given to exercises in writing certain letters or words carried out by the student in his spare time to give him practice in the art of calligraphy.
KAZASKER :The head of the kadis (governors of the various districts) in the Ottoman State. The kazasker participated in the councils of the viziers held under the chairmanship of the Sadrazam (Grand Vizier).
KITA :A piece of calligraphy consisting ot one line of Thuluth followed by several lines of Naskhi. The margins are normally decorated by marbling (ebru) or gilt illumination (Tezhip).
KOLTUK : This is the name given to the blank spaces in a kit'a on each side of a piece of writing in Naskhi script set in the middle of the page under a rather long piece of writing in Thuluth. These spaces are sometimes left blank and sometimes filled with gilt illumination (Tezhip).
MURAK'KA: This name is given to a type of cardboard formed by sticking firm, rather thick sheets of paper one on top of the other. Kit'as or other pieces of writing are stuck on to these and the margins decorated. The term murak'ka is applied to a calligraphic album made up of a number of kit'as produced in the manner described above and connected to one another by joining the edges. Some of these are oound in the form of a book, others so as to open up in concertina form.
MUSENNA : These are pieces of writing, normally in the form of an istif, running from right to left and from left to right. This type of writing is employed in panels or inscriptions. It is also known as "mirror"
writing.

1097H(1685) : According to Hicri (Hegira) Calendar 1097, (According to the Gregorian Calendar 1685)
The Pages of Calligraphy  are based on the collection of Sabanci. Thanks for supporting.

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