Religious invocation by Ismaïl Al-Zuhdi

Religious invocation by Ismaïl Al-Zuhdi

Ottoman Turkey, dated 1138H./1725

Arabic calligraphy in black ink on paper, pasted on cardboard with leafy green margins. Four-line religious invocation in naskhi, framed at the top by a line of text in thuluth, on the right by a golden saz leaf stem, and on the left, by the copyist's signature "Ismaïl Al-Zuhdi", and the date 1138H, written at an angle. Dim.: 11 x 19.8 cm (Wear) Ismail al-Zuhdi was a pupil of Yedikuleli Seyyid 'Abdullah and the Anbarizade Dervish Ali. Unfortunately, few examples of his work exist, as he died prematurely in 1731. According to Ottoman historian Mustakimzade Suleyman Sadeddin Efendi, "...had he lived longer, he would have been among the 'miracle masters' of calligraphy" (quoted in Nabil F. Safwat, Understanding Calligraphy - The Ottoman Contribution, Part One, London, 2014, p.216). In addition to his works on paper, he worked on monumental commemorative inscriptions, such as the one overhanging the main entrance to Istanbul's ancient Byzantine walls, which were restored by order of Sultan Ahmed III (r. 1703-1730), in 1727. A calligraphic panel by Ismail Zuhdi comprising four lines of thuluth is in the collection of Cengiz Çetindogan (ibid., p.216-7, no. 36). This album testifies to his mastery of thuluth and naskh scripts and his remarkable ability to interpret the esteemed style of Ottoman master calligrapher Sheikh Hamdullah Efendi (d. 1520). An album in his hand was presented by Kent Antiques. A Religious invocation, signed Ismaïl Al-Zuhdi, Ottoman Turkey, dated 1138H./1725