Sultans’ sacred Qurans: Showcasing Ottoman calligraphy, art in Istanbul

The “Mushafs of the Sultans” exhibition, featuring an extraordinary collection of Qurans from the personal collections of Ottoman sultans, has opened at Istanbul’s Rami Library. The exhibition spans works from Sultan Mehmed II to Sultan Abdulhamid II, offering visitors a glimpse into centuries of artistic and cultural heritage.

Organized by the Turkish Manuscripts Institution (TYEKB), the exhibition was inaugurated with a Quran recitation by Professor Mehmet Emin Masali. The event was attended by Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, TYEKB President Coskun Yilmaz, Istanbul Provincial Director of Culture and Tourism Huseyin Keskin, Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum Director Ekrem Aytar, Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts General Manager Gorgun Taner, art historian Professor Nazan Olcer, and renowned calligraphers Mehmed Ozcay, Huseyin Kutlu, Fuat Basar, and Professor Husrev Subasi, along with many artists and art enthusiasts.

A testament to Ottoman artistic legacy

During his speech, Minister Ersoy emphasized the Quran’s role as a guiding light in life, highlighting how Ottoman ancestors transformed Mushafs into special carriers of cultural heritage through artistry. He praised the patience, skill, and meticulousness of craftsmen whose works are displayed in the exhibition, reflecting a rich tradition developed over centuries.

“The profound respect and care our ancestors showed made the divine revelation the subject of the most exquisite art applications in our culture and civilization,” Ersoy said. “This exhibition allows us to witness the artistic and cultural richness of the Mushafs.”

The collection showcases calligraphic masterpieces by iconic artists such as Yaqut al-Musta’simi, Sheikh Hamdullah, Hafiz Osman, and Ahmed Karahisari. These Mushafs, adorned by the finest illuminators and bound by master bookbinders, are more than historical artifacts—they are enduring symbols of cultural heritage.

Foundations of preservation: Ottoman legacy

Ersoy noted that the preservation of these Mushafs is part of a deep-rooted foundation tradition in Ottoman culture. This tradition, he explained, was not merely charitable but aimed to preserve, sustain, and advance the civilization’s cultural and intellectual legacy.

He added that the exhibition is not just an art event but an opportunity to connect with the greatness and richness of Türkiye’s culture and history through the elegance of art. “It is our duty to carry the past into the future, to remember the artistic spirit of our ancestors that has resisted centuries and become classic,” he said.

Expanding cultural projects and future initiatives

Ersoy also spoke about the “100+2 Periodic Museum Exhibitions Project,” which aims to showcase Ottoman craftsmanship under various themes across 44 cities until the end of the year. The project’s first exhibition, “From Nature to Art: Wood,” was recently launched at the Ethnography Museum, highlighting Ottoman wood craftsmanship.

Highlighting the Turkish Manuscripts Institution’s efforts, Ersoy announced the publication of Mushafs by Sheikh Hamdullah and Hasan Riza, with plans to publish the Quran of Sevki Efendi, a renowned Ottoman calligrapher. The Mushaf is being prepared by Mehmed Ozcay, one of the most important contemporary masters of calligraphy.

In addition to physical preservation, the institution is digitizing manuscript works and making them accessible through the Manuscripts Database, which offers digital images and records of hundreds of thousands of works.

Legacy of manuscripts: 15 years of achievement

TYEKB President Coskun Yilmaz celebrated the institution’s 15th anniversary, noting its pivotal role in unifying Türkiye’s manuscript collections under one roof. He expressed gratitude to the leadership that made this possible and mentioned ongoing projects to further enhance the preservation and accessibility of manuscript works.

In a symbolic gesture, Ersoy was presented with a piece of marbling art by Yilmaz at the event.

The “Mushafs of the Sultans” exhibition, which presents a unique collection of Qurans spanning approximately 11 centuries from the Abbasid era to the 19th-century Ottomans, will remain open at the Rami Library in Istanbul until the end of April.