Page 65 - The Age of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent

21. Jeweled jade binding and Koran transcribed by Mehmed Tahir in 15707
1571 (Istanbul, Topkapi Sarayí Müzesi, 2/2896)

personal experience in representing these regions. He was an the pilgrimage in his son's memory. This gentleman under-
expert draftsman and painter, executing architectural details took the pious task and prepared the scroll known as Hac
with care and using brilliant colors to enliven the scenes. The Vekaletnamesi, which was transcribed in 1544/1545 by Ebu
paintings in the Futuh el-Harameyn were repeated in a num- Fadl Sincari and signed by several witnesses.
44
ber of contemporary and later examples. Illustrated copies The document contains fifteen topographic scenes: they
of this and similar texts were produced into the nineteenth describe the Mescid-i Haram in Mecca and the sites in the
century, continuing to be in demand both for their literary vicinity of the city visited by pilgrims; depict the mountains,
and their practical values. rivers, fountains, wells, mosques, and tombs around the
The same genre of painting is found on a pilgrimage scroll countryside; show the Mescid-i Nebi in Medina and the im-
made in honor of §ehzade Mehmed. When the prince died in portant places around that city; and conclude with the Aksa
1543, Süleyman asked Haci Piri b. Seyyid Ahmed to perform Mosque and the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. Each scene

64