A. Süheyl Ünver’s Notes: His Grandfather Hattat Mehmed Şevki Efendi his Life, Art and Muraqqas

Introducing the arts through their most pivotal figures provides a vivid, firsthand look into the evolution of artistic works and traditions. Some of IRCICA’s most recent publications on the traditional arts of the Muslim world such as calligraphy and illumination have perfectly embodied this approach, as does the exquisite book-album presented here. It is based on the life and works of the master of Islamic calligraphy Mehmed Şevki Efendi (1829-1887), an eminent figure recognized for his contributions to the development and transmission of this art. He developed his own style known as the “Şevki School” for different scripts, taught numerous students; calligraphed twenty-five complete and many partial copies of the Holy Qur’an, as well as prayers, kit’as (sample pieces), murakkas (folders of kit’as), hilyas (calligraphic composition describing the features of the Prophetsaw), and jaly inscriptions on buildings. The main text of the book-album is based on the diaries of his grand-son Ahmet Süheyl Ünver (1898-1986), a specialist of medical history and master illuminator in Istanbul. The rich album part features the images of about five hundred calligraphy plates, samples and sketches in folders or as single pieces, gathered from major museums, libraries, and private collections, including the collection of Ünver’s daughter Gülbün Mesara. The book has Forewords by Prof. Dr. Mahmud Erol Kılıç, IRCICA Director General; Dr. Hüseyin Gündüz, Faculty Member at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University (MSGSÜ, İstanbul), Faculty of Fine Arts; and the Preface of Mr. Yüksel Yücel, the expert of book arts, who prepared it for publication.

It is noteworthy that IRCICA also published the 6th edition of its book titled “Thuluth & Naskh Mashqs by Mehmed Shawqi” in 2026.