LESSON 5: OTTOMAN ART AND ARCHITECTURE ARTH 111
FALL 2023 | SCHOOL YEAR 2023-2024 | PROF. TARA ZANARDI & PROF. VIVIANA BUCARELLI
Ottoman Empire: Key Points and Themes Tughra (Official Signature) of Sultan Süleyman “the
Magnificent”
● ca. 1299 - 1922/1923
● Osman I (Sultan) - founder of the Ottoman dynasty;
early kingdom in Anatolia (Sunni Islamic empire);
Ottoman Empire ruled over territory in North Africa,
Western Asia, Southeast Europe
● in contrast to Safavid Empire founded in Persia in
1501 (Shia) and Mughal Empire (India) founded in
1526 (Sunni)
● spread of Islam in connection to these different
empires
● Islam - began in Mecca in the 7th century; spreads
widely from Asia, North Africa, and Europe (e.g.
Southern Spain)
● As Ottoman Empire expanded, conquered more
cities:
○ Ottoman Empire replaced Byzantine, capturing
Tughra (Official Signature) of Sultan Süleyman “the
the city in 1453 under Mehmed II
Magnificent”, ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper,
○ Constantinople became new capital of Ottoman
ca. 1555-60
Empire (modern-day Turkey)
○ immediately transformed Hagia Sophia into a
● calligraphy
mosque
● the Ottomans were known for their calligraphy
● Flowering of Ottoman art and architecture under
● an example of how elaborate the Ottomans were
Süleyman “the Magnificent” (r. 1520 - 1566)
when it came to calligraphy
● official seal of the sultan
● stands in for the sultan and his authority
● calligraphic symbol includes:
○ the name of the current sultan
○ his father’s name
○ the title
○ the phrase “the eternally victorious”
● difficult to copy
● flower/botanical details
● gestural
ARTH 111: INTRO TO ART LESSON 5 1
HISTORY
, LESSON 5: OTTOMAN ART AND ARCHITECTURE ARTH 111
FALL 2023 | SCHOOL YEAR 2023-2024 | PROF. TARA ZANARDI & PROF. VIVIANA BUCARELLI
Details Spherical Hanging Ornament
Spherical Hanging Ornament, ceramic (fritware), Iznik,
1575-1585
● purpose was for decorative purposes in a mosque
● white as a background color
● cobalt blue, greens, and reds
● red tulips with green stems and leaves
● geometric patterns on border
● jeweled colors ● glossy finish
● gold unifies the design
● gold outlining the blue Rüstem Pasha Mosque
● gold on the botanical elements
● elaborately patterned
Iznik
● ceramic center of Ottoman Empire from 15th
through 17th centuries
● Iznik ware or Iznik pottery, made of clay with a
cobalt blue underglaze
● manufacture of individual objects (vases, plates) and
tilework
● cobalt also came from Persia (like Chinese
porcelain)
Mimar Sinan, Rüstem Pasha Mosque, Istanbul, 1561-63
● tilework from Iznik very important to Ottoman
mosques
● Ottoman architecture style
ARTH 111: INTRO TO ART LESSON 5 2
HISTORY
FALL 2023 | SCHOOL YEAR 2023-2024 | PROF. TARA ZANARDI & PROF. VIVIANA BUCARELLI
Ottoman Empire: Key Points and Themes Tughra (Official Signature) of Sultan Süleyman “the
Magnificent”
● ca. 1299 - 1922/1923
● Osman I (Sultan) - founder of the Ottoman dynasty;
early kingdom in Anatolia (Sunni Islamic empire);
Ottoman Empire ruled over territory in North Africa,
Western Asia, Southeast Europe
● in contrast to Safavid Empire founded in Persia in
1501 (Shia) and Mughal Empire (India) founded in
1526 (Sunni)
● spread of Islam in connection to these different
empires
● Islam - began in Mecca in the 7th century; spreads
widely from Asia, North Africa, and Europe (e.g.
Southern Spain)
● As Ottoman Empire expanded, conquered more
cities:
○ Ottoman Empire replaced Byzantine, capturing
Tughra (Official Signature) of Sultan Süleyman “the
the city in 1453 under Mehmed II
Magnificent”, ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper,
○ Constantinople became new capital of Ottoman
ca. 1555-60
Empire (modern-day Turkey)
○ immediately transformed Hagia Sophia into a
● calligraphy
mosque
● the Ottomans were known for their calligraphy
● Flowering of Ottoman art and architecture under
● an example of how elaborate the Ottomans were
Süleyman “the Magnificent” (r. 1520 - 1566)
when it came to calligraphy
● official seal of the sultan
● stands in for the sultan and his authority
● calligraphic symbol includes:
○ the name of the current sultan
○ his father’s name
○ the title
○ the phrase “the eternally victorious”
● difficult to copy
● flower/botanical details
● gestural
ARTH 111: INTRO TO ART LESSON 5 1
HISTORY
, LESSON 5: OTTOMAN ART AND ARCHITECTURE ARTH 111
FALL 2023 | SCHOOL YEAR 2023-2024 | PROF. TARA ZANARDI & PROF. VIVIANA BUCARELLI
Details Spherical Hanging Ornament
Spherical Hanging Ornament, ceramic (fritware), Iznik,
1575-1585
● purpose was for decorative purposes in a mosque
● white as a background color
● cobalt blue, greens, and reds
● red tulips with green stems and leaves
● geometric patterns on border
● jeweled colors ● glossy finish
● gold unifies the design
● gold outlining the blue Rüstem Pasha Mosque
● gold on the botanical elements
● elaborately patterned
Iznik
● ceramic center of Ottoman Empire from 15th
through 17th centuries
● Iznik ware or Iznik pottery, made of clay with a
cobalt blue underglaze
● manufacture of individual objects (vases, plates) and
tilework
● cobalt also came from Persia (like Chinese
porcelain)
Mimar Sinan, Rüstem Pasha Mosque, Istanbul, 1561-63
● tilework from Iznik very important to Ottoman
mosques
● Ottoman architecture style
ARTH 111: INTRO TO ART LESSON 5 2
HISTORY
