Kalem Güzeli

“Baghdad, at the confluence of two cultures, Aramaean and Greek, became, in the tenth century, the intellectual center of the world.” As capital of the caliphate, Baghdad was also to become the cultural capital of the Islamic world. Our purpose is to show, as briefly as possible, the role that this region played in the [...]

Whatever its meaning and scope is, whatever it covers or discloses,there is life. It may be condensed,exalted, athropied or obscured. Or it may become meaningful, evident, full of life. For a moment (or in some people for a lifetime) LIFE may acquire in one of its aspects vigor, density and depth. It’s the ART which [...]

The mid-16th century saw a return to naturalism in the Ottoman decorative arts, and one of the most popular motifs was fruit trees in blossom. This symbol of spring was often combined with tulips, roses and other flowers, and depicted sometimes as an entire tree and sometimes as branches alone. Another form was blossoming branches [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]