Hilye-i Şerif

h. 1270 [1853]

The hilye text describes the Prophet Muhammad’s physiognomy, character and demeanour as recounted by the Caliph Ali. The first ten lines of this text, written in nesih script, are inside the circular cartouche encircled by green leaves in the centre of the panel, while the last three lines are in the rectangular cartouche below this known as the etek, which is encircled by flowers and leaves. The names of the first four caliphs are written in the spandrels. The besmele is written in muhakkak script in an oval cartouche surrounded by flowers and leaves at the top of the composition, and below this is a similar cartouche containing verse 107 of the Enbiya surah, ‘We sent thee not save as a mercy for the peoples’ inscribed in sülüs script. The spaces between these text panels are decorated with pink bouquets of roses on a white ground. The composition is surrounded by a broad border containing gilded rosettes and bouquets on a green ground.

Detail

Title:

Hilye-i Şerif

Artist:

Mehmed Şefik

Date:

h. 1270 [1853]

Dimensions:

62 x 39 cm

Medium:

Paper, ink, coloured paint, gold

Location:

Sabancı Üniversitesi Sakıp Sabancı Müzesi (Emirgan, İstanbul, Türkiye)

Object Number:

140-0093-MSF

Credit:

Exhibition History