Ahmed Karahisari

Ahmed Karahisari (1468–1566) (Turkish: Ahmed Şemseddin Karahisârî) (Ottoman Turkish: احمد شمس ا لدين قراهسارى‎) was an Ottoman calligrapher.

History

Karahisari was born in Karahisar. Unlike most of the Ottoman calligraphers of his era he did not follow the style of Sheikh Hamdullah, but adopted the trend of Yakut-ı Mustasımi. He created the best examples of the script varieties of Thuluth and Naskh. However, apart from his students, this style was not widely accepted.

Quran covering by Ahmet Karahisari, kept at the Topkapi Palace.

His most important work is the Quran which he penned for Suleiman the Magnificent (reigned 1520-1566), which is preserved today at the Topkapi Palace.

In terms of the technique and innovations made to the calligraphy, he is considered one of the most important three Ottoman calligraphers along with Sheikh Hamdullah and Hâfiz Osman. Among the followers of Karahisari style his student Hasan Çelebi is renowned as much as himself.

He died in Istanbul.

Gallery

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  Right part of a double-page frontispiece to a manuscript of religious texts, penned for Süleyman I. c. 1550

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  Sura Al-An'am written in Muhaqqaq, Thuluth and Naskh calligraphic styles by Ahmed Karahisari, 16th century

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  Ink and gold on paper - 1470

See also

• Islamic calligraphy
• Thuluth

References

• Brend, Barbara (1991). Islamic art. British Museum Press. p. 240. ISBN 978-0-7141-1443-9.