Calligraphic composition

1708-09

This kıt’a (calligraphic composition) by Derviş Abdî consists of one line of sülüs, followed by one of nesih, another line of sülüs and finally three lines of nesih. The words, ‘I repent of my sins and errors’ is divided between the two sülüs lines. Beneath the first line of sülüs, the line of nesih reads, ‘In truth I beg God to forgive me more than seventy times a day, and I repent’. This is followed by the second line of sülüs and the next two lines of nesih, which are in Arabic and read, ‘Make haste before the end comes: The smallest and greatest deed will be judged. Perform many good deeds.’ The final line of nesih is the colophon, ketebehû ez’afu’l-kuttâb Dervîş Abdî gaferallâhu zünûbehû an cerîdeti (the weakest of scribes Derviş Abdî—may God forgive his sins). Next to the nesih lines is a note reading, eş-Şeyh el-ma’rûf bi-şeş kalem 120, explaining that Derviş Abdî copied the format of this kıt’a from one by Şeyh Hamdullah, who is here described as ‘the sheikh known as the six hands’ in reference to the fact that Şeyh Hamdullah was master of the six calligraphic hands, sülüs, nesih, muhakkak, reyhani, tevki and rıka. The spaces between the lines of sülüs are gilded and the margins are decorated with marbled paper in the vassale collage technique.