Collections of Calligraphy, Miniature Paintings and Sultan Portraits at Topkapi Palace

The former sleeping quarters of the treasury guards (Hazina Aghas) now house two fascinating collections. On the ground floor, visitors can explore the impressive collections of calligraphy and miniature paintings, while the upper gallery displays portraits of the sultans.

Calligraphy and Miniature Painting Collections

While the Seljuk Turks primarily used the “kufi” script, the oldest form of Arabic calligraphy, the Ottomans preferred the younger, livelier “nesih” and “sülüs” scripts for their own works. Almost all Turkish calligraphy in the Koran was written in “nesih,” with the headings in “sülüs.”

Turkish miniature art began during the reign of Sultan Mehmet II in the 15th century when foreign artists from Persia, Hungary, Georgia, and Albania were invited to the Ottoman court. This art form reached its peak in the late 19th century. Initially influenced by Islamic traditions, Turkish miniatures gradually developed their own distinct style. These works often illustrated written pieces, particularly poetry. During the imperial era (16th-17th centuries), the themes of miniature art included royal celebrations, military victories, hunting scenes, and depictions of paradise. By the 18th and 19th centuries, miniatures began to feature scenes of dancing ladies and delicate men holding carnations or tulips.

Among the most significant works in Turkish miniature painting are:

“Surname”: Depicting the circumcision celebrations of the princes, which lasted for 52 days during Sultan Murat III’s reign, this work features 250 miniature paintings.

“Siyer-i Nebi”: A six-volume work that chronicles the life of the Prophet Muhammad, featuring 914 miniature paintings. Three of these volumes are currently housed in the palace.

“Silsilename”: A genealogical album documenting the portraits of the sultans up until the reign of Sultan Ahmet III (18th century).
On the same floor as the calligraphy and miniature collections, glass showcases display valuable handwritten and hand-painted Korans from the 12th to 17th centuries in “kufi” writing, as well as an Arabic Bible dating back to the 4th century. The “Mehmet Kara Kalem” collection from the 14th-15th centuries includes 64 illustrations depicting battles, dances, and mythical human-animal creatures, as well as scenes from Middle Asian nomadic life, all drawn in charcoal and watercolors.

The miniatures featured here depict a range of subjects, including a palace festival, Sultan Mehmet III receiving a Hungarian minister, portraits of the sultans, the meeting of the 13th-century Turkish mystic Mevlana and his companion Şems, hunting scenes, and representations of Mecca, Medina, and biblical figures like Moses.

Other notable items in this collection include:

Leather and gold-embossed Koran bindings decorated with stylized flowers.
A precious writing box crafted from mother-of-pearl and horn, complete with a jeweled inkwell.
Gold seals of the sultans, three of which are made from emeralds.

A long, gold-plated pair of paper scissors, as well as a knife once used to sharpen quill pens, its handle adorned with coral and ivory.
One of the most important and intriguing pieces in the collection is the map of Piri Reis, a Turkish admiral from 1513. This map displays the western coast of Africa and Europe, the Atlantic Ocean, and South America. Due to its perspective, the map gives the viewer the impression that it was drawn from a vantage point in outer space. The map has been referenced in various works, including those by Erich von Daniken.

These collections provide a captivating insight into the artistic and scholarly achievements of the Ottoman Empire, showcasing both the beauty and cultural significance of Turkish calligraphy and miniature art.