Ahmed Karahisari

Background

Ahmed Karahisari was born around 1468 or 1469 in Afyonkarahisar, Afyon Province, Turkey.

Education

A pupil of Şeyh Hamdullah, Ahmed Karahisari studied with Asadullah al-Kirmani.

Career

Ahmed took the six scripts canonized by Yaqut Al-Musta'Simi as models and perfected 'thuluth' and 'tawqi'. The frontispiece to a collection of religious texts shows how he combined decorative and bold elements to produce a unique and attractive style. In addition to his manuscripts of the Koran and albums of calligraphic exercises, Ahmed designed architectural inscriptions, such as the circular panels around the mihrab and the frieze around the dome of the Suleymaniye Mosque. Unlike Hamdullah, Ahed had few pupils.

Achievements

• Ahmed Karahisari became the most famous calligrapher during the reign of the Ottoman sultan Suleyman (reigned 1520 - 1566), when he was given the title Shamas al-Din ("Sun of Religion"). His most important work is the Quran which he penned for him.

Works

More photos

• painting

  • unknown title

  • Calligraphy Exercise

  • Album

  • Calligraphy Exercise

  • unknown title

  • Tile

  • A large size mushaf

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

  • Sura Al-An'am written in Muhaqqaq, Thuluth and Naskh calligraphic styles

  • unknown title

  • Holy Quran covering

Connections

Ahmed Karahisari had an adopted son, Hasan Çelebi, who was his student. Ahmed taught him calligraphy.

Son:

Hasan Çelebi

References

• The Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art & Architecture This book is the most comprehensive reference work in this complex and diverse area of art history. Built on the acclaimed scholarship of the Grove Dictionary of Art, this work offers over 1,600 up-to-date entries on Islamic art and architecture ranging from the Middle East to Central and South Asia, Africa, and Europe and spans over a thousand years of history.