Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2

The Propaganda Power of Urban Views in Selim III's Ottoman Empire
(Pera Museum Publication 115, 2023) Uğurlu, A. Hilal
Istanbul, the capital of the Ottoman Empire since the mid-fifteenth century, boasts a rich history of panoramic representations that have captivated artists and patrons alike. From the early years, artists affiliated with the retinue of ambassadors to the Ottoman Empire played a significant role in creating these expansive city views. Melchior Lorck’s 11.27-meters long panoramic view of Istanbul, drawn between 1559 and ca. 1563, is one of the earliest attempts to portray the city accurately and in panoramic format. Lorck was an artist assigned to the entourage of the German ambassador to Istanbul, Ogier Ghiselin du Busbecq. In the eighteenth century, the changing nature of diplomatic relations between the Ottoman Empire and European polities led to an increase in the number of embassies and, consequently, the number of artists appointed to these posts. This increase in artistic activity was reflected in the growing number of city views and topographical landscapes of Istanbul produced during this period. Concurrently, the emergence of philhellenism in Europe, coupled with the proliferation of picturesque travel literature, augmented the attention to the Ottoman lands and its capital.
Philanthropy in the Form of a Hair Strand: Sacred Relics in Nineteenth-Century Ottoman Lands
(Koç University Research Center For Anatolian Civilizations (ANAMED), 2020) Uğurlu, A. Hilal
From the last quarter of the eighteenth century, the caliphal status and the legitimacy of the Ottoman sultans were constantly and increasingly challenged. One of the most effective and powerful tools that they utilized in order to strengthen their diminishing image in the eyes of their subjects was the re-appropriation of sacred places, either by extensive restorations or by demolishing and rebuilding them. While this was not an emergent practice, during the tumultuous moments of the long nineteenth century, these incidents proliferated. Additionally, a sacred network associated with the benevolence and religiosity of the sultans was created by the increasing mobility of the sacred relics of Prophet Mohammad. For instance, hair strands of the Prophet (lihye-i şerif) were sent to different corners of the Ottoman geography by the court. These sacred relics were kept generally in newly built mosques or custom built and repurposed edifices that protected and made its visitation possible. Similarly, in the Capital, visiting these relics became popularized. So much that Abdülmecid I (r.1839-61) ordered the construction of a new imperial mosque (Hırka-i Şerif Camii) at Fatih. Although called a mosque, it was designed specifically for the visitation of the Holy Mantle, as a ziyara. This article investigates the proliferation and circulation of the sacred relics in the nineteenth-century Ottoman lands. It argues that these acts not only aimed to address the religious needs of the subjects but were also expected to infuse the sacredness of these relics to the imperial image.

Mimarlık Bölümü Koleksiyonu

Browse

Filters

Settings

Sort By

Results per page

Search Results