Culture
May 15, 2002
Year 14 No. 300
May 15, 2002
Year 14 No. 300
|
Culture
May 15, 2002 Year 14 No. 300 |
|
|
| Dr.
Esin Atil speaks on the Age of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent Sel Erder Yackley, The Turkish Times, Midwest Correspondent - Nearly 300 people gathered in Villa Park, west of Chicago, recently to hear Dr. Esin Atil, an Art Historian and renown author speak about Ottoman Art and Culture in the 16th century. She was the featured speaker/scholar recognized by The Islamic Foundation of Chicago. Shakeela Hassan, M.D. introduced Dr. Atil following a sit down dinner, saying she is proud to be a friend of Turkey and that lectures like these increase our awareness of our world's cultural heritage.
''The reign of Sultan Suleyman I (1520-66) marked the zenith of Ottoman political and economic power, as well as the golden age of Turkish art and architecture. Suleyman was a patron of the arts and personally oversaw the activities of the court artists. Under his discerning guidance, the imperial studios produced splendid works of art that represent a unique blend of Islamic, Turkish and European traditions," said Dr. Atil. The most innovative artists belonged to the imperial painting studio that produced manuscripts for the sultan's libraries, according to Dr. Atil. "These artists created new and original styles and themes that not only characterized the artistic vocabulary of the age but also had a profound impact on the development of Turkish arts." Her presentation, enhanced with slices on two screens, analyzed the formulation of these themes. She discussed the masters responsible for the evolution of the artistic styles, and demonstrated the transmission of decorative concepts from manuscript illumination to a variety of court arts, including metalwork, ceramics, textiles, and rugs. Dr Esin Atil, who recently retired from her position at the Sacchler Galleries of Islamic Art at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C., is a prolific writer on Islamic Arts. Many of the 22 books she wrote and/or edited were on display at the foundation's dinner. Among her noteworthy contributions are "Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent" and her the PBS series "Empire of Faith." Among the honored guests were Turkish Consul General, Hon. Yavuz and Fatos Aktas and the consul general of Egypt. More than a dozen Turks also attended the dinner. |
||
