ABOUT THE CONQUEROR’S PORTRAITS FOUND IN TWO THE CONQUEROR ALBUMS PREPARED IN 20TH CENTURY

It is known that in the Ottoman after the second half of the 18th century, muralist house of the palace was disbanded The production of countless miniature manuscripts, which were produced under the auspices of the palace to document enthronements, wars, peace, reigning sultans, weddings and daily events, came to an abrupt end. It is not possible to mention of any significant production until the second half of 20th century. It is known that the two albums worked on 1945 between1953 were produced by the personal efforts of two valuable academicians who gave importance to the arts of the book and worked to keep these arts alive. The first miniature manuscript, which is the subject of this study, began to be produced in 1945 when Professor-in-ordinary İsmail Hakkı Ertaylan held many meetings with famous calligraphers and illuminators of the period to prepare a "the Conqueror Album", which was aimed to be prepared in 1953, the 500th anniversary of the conquest of Istanbul. The second miniature manuscript, which is the subject of this study, is a single copy prepared by Prof.-in ordinary Ahmet Süheyl Ünver in 1953 under the name of “the Conqueror’s Book” to be presented to Mehmet the Conqueror in spirit. The two academician/craftsman were teachers and students at the Medreset’ül Hattatin, and later became colleagues at the Fine Arts Academy. The portraits of Mehmet the Conqueror described by A. Süheyl Ünver and Hüseyin Tahirzade Behzat, which are found in two original, unique and artistically valuable miniature manuscripts, were compared and evaluated. Keywords: Mehmet the Conqueror, Prof. -in-ordinary A. Süheyl Ünver, Hüseyin Tahirzade Behzat, the Conqueror’s Album, the Conqueror’s Book, Mehmet the Conqueror’s miniatures, the Turkish miniature of 20th century Miniature