History of the art of calligraphy, the schools and their followers

IRCICA has the pleasure to present the Arabic edition of Prof. Dr. Muhittin Serin’s essential book on the art of calligraphy. The translation from Turkish into Arabic under IRCICA’s coordination is based on the book’s revised and enlarged edition dated 2019 published by Kubbealtı Publishing, Istanbul. The book presents the traditional art of calligraphy with its aesthetical values, its history, the various styles of calligraphy, the writing tools and materials, all based on examples of works by famous calligraphers of the Islamic world. The author, Prof. Dr. Muhittin Serin, is an internationally acknowledged specialist of this art and a master calligrapher himself. He teaches the history and theory of the art of calligraphy at 29 Mayıs University in Istanbul. Having received his Ijaza (certificate of qualification to teach and practice the art of calligraphy, issued by the teacher) from Kemal Batanay in the ta’liq style; he participated in several exhibitions, delivered lectures and papers at conferences and published articles in art journals, all on international level. IRCICA had planned since long ago to publish a reference book on the art of calligraphy in the Arabic language. This comprehensive scholarly book concretizes this aim in the best way. Originally in two volumes, the Arabic translation has been set up into three volumes. Following an introductory chapter on “art” as a concept, its emergence and development, Volume I has the following chapters:

I. Islam and writing

II. Harmony in Islamic calligraphy

III. Most widespread uses of the art of calligraphy

IV. The origins of Islamic calligraphy: balanced and proportioned writings

V. Kufi and its varieties: al-aqlam al-sitta The chapters In Volume II are on:

VI. Al-aqlam al-sitta in the Ottoman period: the schools and their followers

VII. The Ottoman calligraphy school in Egypt and Volume III has the following topics:

VIII. Scripts developed outside al-aqlam al-sitta

IX. Famous Ottoman calligraphers in nasta’liq

X. Institutions for calligraphy education in the Republic period in Turkey and the calligraphers

XI. Writing tools and materials.