What is Miniature Art? Who are the Famous Miniature Artists?
Miniature is one of the visual art branches that dates back to very old times. The art of telling stories, events or various information through the language of pictures is called miniature. The people who perform miniature art, which had a very important place in the Ottoman period, are called nakkaş, müsavvir, depiction artist, şebihnüsiv or miniature artist.
Miniature is a branch of art with many different schools. Various factors such as the historical process and the region where it is performed determine the characteristics of miniature art. Miniature art, which became a more prominent branch of art with Islam, gained a new face and miniatures, which began to be engraved in handwritten books, became one of the most common visual products.
The miniature school in the Ottoman Empire was effective in the Ottoman Empire’s wide geography and also becoming a multicultural nation in terms of the narrative and expression principles that developed over time. As of the 19th century, the application areas of miniature art have expanded and miniatures have now begun to be applied more widely on walls, materials such as wood, leather, and canvases.
Miniature has been a very important art form from ancient times to the present day for conveying historical events not only in writing but also visually. During the Ottoman period, famous miniaturists always drew important moments of the sultan in miniature and thanks to this, miniature images have survived to the present day.
What Subjects Are Treated in Miniatures?
In general, subjects that may be important for that period and person are treated in miniatures. For example, in the Ottoman Empire, it was absolutely essential for important events that took place in the palace to be depicted in miniature by the nakkaş. The sultan’s enthronement ceremony, the circumcision ceremonies of the princes, wedding ceremonies, and mass hunting events were the subjects of miniatures. Miniatures provide detailed information about the daily life, clothing, and rituals of that period and have helped to carry them to the present day.
How is Miniature Made?
Miniature artists make their paintings on paper that has been ahered, that is, polished with egg white. The materials used are delicate and special materials, usually brushes obtained from bird feathers and called pencils and organic paints. Since it is quite difficult to find and prepare organic paints today, these paints have been replaced by industrial miniature paints.
The miniature artist uses high cotton paper, spreads this paper on a hard marble and flattens the paper with an object usually made of ivory and polishes it. Then, he determines the dimensions of the shapes he wants to make and draws the outlines of these shapes on the paper. The outlines of the sketches made with ink are passed over and then the figures are colored with root dye so that they can maintain their liveliness for a long time.
Who are the Famous Miniature Artists?
- Nakkaş Nigari
Nakkaş Nigari’s real name is Haydar Reis. He became a famous miniaturist because he made miniatures of famous people during the Ottoman period and was very successful in portraits. Nakkaş Nigari, who is very successful in drawing human faces, makes his drawings look very close to reality. He made miniatures of Yavuz Sultan Selim, Kanuni Sultan Suleiman, Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha and Selim II in the Ottoman Empire. - Nakkaş Sinan Bey
Nakkaş Sinan Bey was a famous miniature artist who lived in the 13th century. He was sent to Italy by Fatih Sultan Mehmet and therefore he was a miniaturist who was influenced by Italian and Renaissance painting. He is an artist whose miniatures generally have similar perspectives to Italian artists. - Nakkaş Osman
Nakkaş Osman was the Chief Nakkaş of the Ottoman Palace after the 16th century. He is a miniaturist who has managed to make a name for himself even today with the miniature works he has made, the head miniaturist mentioned in Orhan Pamuk’s novel “My Name is Red” is Nakkaş Osman. The works produced by Nakkaş Osman have always been quite detailed works. - Seyyid Lokman
Seyyid Lokman is a famous miniaturist who served the Ottoman Empire for approximately 30 years. According to the archives, Seyyid Lokman had a team of 126 people and also worked with Nakkaş Osman. Seyyid Lokman is the miniaturist who depicted the death of Prince Mustafa. - Nakkaş Nakşi
He is one of the famous Ottoman miniaturists who produced works in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Nakkaş Nakşi is known as one of the miniaturists who shaped miniatures in the Ottoman Empire. In Nakkaş Nakşi’s style, heads are generally large and bodies are sometimes deformed. He mostly follows the rules of perspective Nakkaş Nakşi, who produced remarkable works, depicted many works in the Ottoman Empire. - Levni
He was a miniature artist who was the chief painter during the reign of Mustafa II and Ahmet III. He has an understanding that tries to reflect perspective and the personal characteristics of the people he depicts on paper in his miniatures. Levni is the first Ottoman. He is a miniaturist who depicts the ideal woman in anlı. - Abdullah Buhari
He is a miniature artist who lived in the 18th century. A realistic understanding dominates Abdullah Buhari’s paintings. He is famous for his single-figure flower works. He is a miniaturist who attaches great importance to colors. His works are kept in the Topkapı Palace museum library. - Nakkaş Hasan
Nakkaş Hasan, one of the famous miniaturists of the period of Murat III, also worked with Nakkaş Osman. He is a miniaturist who conveys cultural identities, facial expressions and clothing of people well. He was generally influenced by the style of Iranian miniaturists. He is a miniaturist who attaches great importance to details and the use of colors. - Matrakçı Nasuh
Matrakçı Nasuh, whose real name is Nasuh Bin Karagöz El-Bosnavi, was given the nickname because he played the matrak game very well. II. He was educated at Enderun during the reign of Bayezid and produced works during the reigns of Kanuni and Yavuz Sultan Selim. His drawings are known as very detailed works that provide real information about the past. - Süheyl Ünver
Süheyl Ünver, a master of miniature and illumination, is a master who has trained many students. Süheyl Ünver, who continued to learn and improve himself throughout his life, is an artist who devoted 75 years of his life to reading. - Rabia Edeviye Koçer
Since 2003 The Best Famous Miniature Artists
