Journal of Ottoman Calligraphy

Mustafa Izzet was born in Tosya in 1216 H. After his father’s death he was sent to Istanbul. Happening to cath the attention of Sultan Mahmud II he was taken into the Saray, where he was trained and educated. He learned Thuluth and Naskhi from the calligrapher Mustafa Vasif Efendi and Ta’Iiq from Yesarizade Mustafa Izzet Effendi. He received an icazet from both his teachers. He had a very fine voice and also practiced music. He was appointed to the Saray imamlik during the reign of Sultan Abdülmecid.
He produced eleven copies of the Qur’an, a number of Delails and En’ams, some two hundred Hilyes and a number of panels in a very fine Naskhi in the style of Hafiz Osman. He was responsible for the large round panels in the Ayasofya Museum.
He had a large number of pupils, and trained some very fine calligraphers including Sefik Bey, Muhsinzade Abdullah, Vahdeti, Abdullah Zühdü, Kayiszade Osman, Arif of Carsamba, Mehmed Hilmi and Ilmi Effendi. He died in 1293 H. and was buried in the graveyard of the Kadiri Dergahi (dervish convent) in Tophane.

As his name indicates he was born in Kütahya. He learned the art of calligraphy from Mustafazade Süleyman Effendi, a pupil of Ibrahim of Rhodes. He died in 1202 H.

Hacizade Mustafa was born in Cengelkoy, but the dates of his birth and death are uncertain. In the “Hattatlar Seceresi” written by the calligrapher and court tutor Mehmet Vasfi Effendi he is mentioned as having received his icazet from Mustafazade Süleyman Effendi.

He was born in Istanbul, and was the grandfather of the Suyolcuzade Mehmed Necib who wrote a work entitled “Devha-tül Kuttab” on the subject of Turkish calligraphers.
He learned the art of calligraphy and received his icazet from Dervish Ali “Birinci”, a pupil of Halid Erzrumi. He himself taught Hafiz Osman, one of his very numerous pupils. He flourished during the reign of Sultan Mehmed IV.
He wrote some fifty copies of the Qur’an, a large number of En’ams, prayer books and Murak’kas. He died in 1097 H. (1685) and was buried in the Eyup cemetery.

Mehmed Said was a native of Istanbul and resided in the Mahmutpasa district. He learned the art of calligraphy and received his icazet from Sekerzade Mehmed Effendi. He was a very prolific calligrapher. He died in 1192 H. (1774)

Mehmed Giridi was born in Crete and came to Istanbul to study the art of calligraphy He learned calligraphy and received his icazet from Hafiz Osman Effendi, and later engaged in discussions with the calligrapher small bin All of Agakapi on the subject of calligraphy. He died in 1165 H.

Mehmed Sekerzade was born in Manisa, but the date of his birth is uncertain. He came to Istanbul and took lessons in Thuluth and Naskhi first from Abdullah Kirimi and later from Seyid Abdullah of Yedikule, from whom he received his icazet. An illuminated Quran written in the style of Sheikh Hamdullah was published by the Ministry of Education in 1312 H. (1888).

Mehmed Izzet Effendi was born in Istanbul in 1257 H. We do not know from whom he received his icazet, but he is known to have written a very beautiful Thuluth and Naskhi and to have written the Rik’a script in a very pleasing style peculiar to himself. He taught writing in various schools including Galatasaray Lycee. Two of his books of calligraphy models for students have been published. The inscription on the dome of the German Fountain in Sultanahmet bears his signature. He died in 1320 and was buried in the Yahya Effendi cemetery in Besiktas.

Mehmed was born in Besiktas in Istanbul. The cognomen “imamzade” indicates that his father was an imam. The works that have survived display great delicacy and finesse in the use of Naskhi script. He died in 1165 H.

Mehmed was the grandson of Mustafa Dede, the son of Sheikh Hamdullah. He learned the art of calligraphy from his father, from whom he also received his icazet. In Thuluth and Naskhi he imitated the style and character of the script used by his grandfather. He died ca. 1001 H. and was buried near the grave of his grandfather in the cemetery of Karacaahmet.

His date of birth is uncertain but he is known to have been born in Daghistan and to have arrived in Istanbul with his father Sheikh Murad Effendi at a very early age. Although his interest in calligraphy led him to apply to several calligraphers for lessons he was of such a difficult disposition that no one would accept him as a pupil and he was obliged to teach himself the art of calligraphy by examining calligraphic models and karalamas by the great masters. In Nashki he followed Hafiz Osman while in Thuluth and Jeli he created an individual style of his own.
His wife Esma Ibret Hanim was also a calligrapher of great merit. He died in 1245 H. and was buried in the cemetery of the Sheikh Murad Tekke (dervish lodge) at Eyup.

Mahmud II was taught the art of calligraphy first by Gebecizade Mehmet Vasfi Efendi and later by Ustad Mustafa Rakim. He was particularly interested in Naskhi, Thuluth and Jell Thuluth. Several very fine panels written by Mahmud II in Jeli Thuluth are to be see in a number of Istanbul mosques and museums. He died in 1255 H.

Kamil Effendi was born in Istanbul in 1278 H. He learned Thuluth and Naskhi from the great calligrapher Sami Effendi, from whom he also received his icazet. He later learned from the same teacher the art of the tughra and Divani script. He held the post of teacher of writing in the Divan-i Hümayun Kalemi (Secretariat of the Imperial Chancery). In 1914 he was appointed teacher of Thuluth and Naskhi in the Medrese-tul Hattatin, in 1918 teacher of writing in Galatasaray Lycee and in 1936 teacher of calligraphy in the Academy of Fine Arts.
He was twice invited to Egypt, where he left a considerable number of very fine works. He died in 1360 H. and was buried in the cemetery at Eyup.

Hulusi Effendi was born in Istanbul in 1286 H. He learned Ta’liq from Haci Arif Bey of Carsamba and Sami Effendi, and Thuluth and Naskhi from Muhsinzade Abdullah Bey. He was teacher of writing in Darüssafaka Lycee and the Medresetül Hattatin.
Hulusi Effendi was one of the greatest Turkish masters of Ta’Iiq and Ta’liq Jeli. He spent his whole life, however, in financial distress and poverty. He died in 1358 H. The recent calligraphers Halim Ozyazici and Kemal Batanay were two of his most distinguished pupils.

Halil Mir Tevkii was the son of one All Pasha. The dates of his birth and death are uncertain, but he is known to have lived during the reign of Sultan Mahmud I, to have learned calligraphy from Hüseyin Habli and to have been appointed to a position in the Saray.

The great master of calligraphy Sheikh Hamdullah was born in Amasya in 840 H. He founded his own individual school of calligraphy and was generally known as “Kible-tül Kuttab” (paragon) of Turkish calligraphers
In the section dealing with the history of calligraphy we have already mentioned how he came to Istanbul and was appointed teacher of calligraphy in the Palace’s school by Sultan Bayezid II. Here we shall confine ourselves to a brief account of the great changes he brought about in the art of calligraphy.
Sheikh Hamdullah developed the Thuluth and Naskhi scripts, which have survived with very little change to the present day, from the Muhakkak and Tevki scripts, which up to that time had been written in the style of Yakut. He devoted his whole life to the art of calligraphy, producing forty-seven Qur’ans and innumerable En’ams, Evrads and Cuz. Topkapi Saray Museum contains two exquisite copies of the Qur’an.
This great master of calligraphy died in 926 H. and was buried in the cemetery of Karacaahmet.

He was known as Haci Arif of Carsamba because he lived in that district of Istanbul. He learned Thuluth and Naskhi from Hasim Effendi, an apprentice of Mustafa Rakim, and Ta’liq from Kibrisizade Hakki and Melek Pasazade Ali Haydar Bey. Arif Bey displayed great skill in istifs and musennas in Jeli Thuluth. These exquisite works aroused great admiration and appreciation. Ant Bey was also a master of the tughra. He died in 1310 H. and was buried in the Yavedud cemetery near Eyup.

Ali Effendi learned Thuluth and Jeli from Kazasker Mustafa Izzet’s favorite pupil Sefik Bey. He produced some very fine compositions and was one of the most highly regarded masters of the time, gaining very considerable renown.

Ismail bin Ali was a native of Istanbul. He received his icazet in Thuluth and Naskhi from Hoca Mehmet Rasim Efendi of Egrikapi. He was also interested in Ta’Iiq script and took lessons from Katipzade Mehmet Refi Efendi. He died in 1164 H. and was buried in the cemetery at Eyup.

We know neither the date of his birth nor the date of his death, but in view of the fact that his teacher ibrahim Hanif, from whom he learned both Thuluth and Naskhi, died in 1189 H, (1771), he can be assumed to have lived in the twelfth century of the Hegira (eighteenth century A.D.).

Abdullah of Yedikule was the favourite pupil of the celebrated calligrapher Hafiz Osman Efendi, and we know from the register of calligraphers that he received his icazet in 1102 H. He achieved great beauty and perfection in his use of Thuluth and Naskhi and was awarded both praise and protection by Sultan Ahmed Ill. He produced twenty-four Qur’ans as well as a number of Enams, Evrads, Kit’as, Murak’kas and Hilye-i Serifs. He had a large number of pupils. Most of his works are preserved in the Nuruosmaniye Library. Abdullah Effendi was greatly loved and admired by his teacher. He used the name Seyyid to indicate that he was descended from the family of the Prophet. He bid farewell to this transitory world in 1144 H.

Abdülmecid learned the art of calligraphy and received his icazet from Mehmet Tahir Efendi, a faithful disciple and devoted pupil of Mahmud Celaleddin, the founder of his own individual school of calligraphy. Panels written by Abdülmecid in Thuluth and Jeli in the style of Celaleddin are to be found in several Istanbul mosques and museums, particularly in the mosques of Dolmabahce and Ortakoy. He died in 1861 at the age of thirty-eight.

Abdullfettah was born on the island of Chios in 1230 H. He was brought to Istanbul at a very early age and educated under the patronage of Husrev Pasha. He learned Thuluth, Jeli and Naskhi from a calligrapher of the name of Mustafa Sakir Effendi and received his icazet in 1847. He was employed first in the Secretariat of the Grand Vizier and subsequently in various government posts in Anatolia. In 1857 he was appointed designer of coins in the Imperial Mint, and was sent to Vienna and Paris for further professional training. He died in Vanikoy in 1314 H. and was buried in the garden belonging to the tomb of Sultan Mahmud.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Abdullah of Yedikule was the favourite pupil of the celebrated calligrapher Hafiz Osman Efendi, and we know from the register of calligraphers that he received his icazet in 1102 H. He achieved great beauty and perfection in his use of Thuluth and Naskhi and was awarded both praise and protection by Sultan Ahmed Ill. He produced twenty-four Qur’ans as well as a number of Enams, Evrads, Kit’as, Murak’kas and Hilye-i Serifs. He had a large number of pupils. Most of his works are preserved in the Nuruosmaniye Library. Abdullah Effendi was greatly loved and admired by his teacher. He used the name Seyyid to indicate that he was descended from the family of the Prophet. He bid farewell to this transitory world in 1144 H.