The Artist and the Sultan. Aq-Qoyunlu Sultan Khalil and the Arts of the Book

IRCICA’s publication titled “The Artist and the Sultan. Aq-Qoyunlu Sultan Khalil and the Arts of the Book” highlights the development of the arts of the book under the Turkish states that ruled in central regions of the Islamic geography during the 13th-16th centuries, corresponding to one of the peak periods of Islamic civilization. The arts of calligraphy, illumination, miniature, marbled paper, paper cutting, book binding that evolved within the framework of Islamic culture and civilization made major advances under the Mamluks (1250-1517) and Timurids (1370), whose heritage was later transmitted to the Safavids by the intermediary of the Qara-Qoyunlu and the Aq-Qoyunlu states. Under these two states, eminent artists emerged from centers such as Baghdad, Shiraz, and Tabriz, and the production of illustrated manuscripts increased. This study focuses on works produced during the period of Aq-Qoyunlu Khalil, the Governor of Shiraz (1371-1378) and Sultan (1378), who was a patron of arts and culture. Based on thirty works dating from or attributed to his time, the study examines the principles, styles, and themes that characterized the arts of calligraphy, illumination, miniature painting, and binding, tracing stylistic influences over time and space. It is hoped that the book will make a valuable contribution to studies in this field.