New vision of The frontispiece Painting of Suleyman-Nama Manuscript at the Chester Beatty Library. Dublin, inv. T.406

Abstract:

The Chester Beatty Library in Dublin has a copy of the “Suleyman-Nama” Manuscript, inv. T.406. Sharaf al- Din Musa, Known as “Uzun Fardousy” started writing the manuscript of Suleyman-Nama during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih and finished it, upon the order of, Sultan Bayezid II. The manuscript deals with the life of the Prophet Suleyman, some religious stories, the stories of the prophets that related with the Prophet Suleyman, and a group of Persian stories. This Manuscript includes only one Painting that was placed as a double-page frontispiece for the manuscript.

Research problem:

1-The given name of this Painting in the references does not reflect the subject of the Painting.

2-The difference in the artistic style in representatating the subject of this painting from the prevailing artistic style to represent this subject in the schools of Islamic Painting.

3-This painting is very unique, and shows a reflection of many of the royal signals of the Ottoman sultans and the Ottoman jobs of the Ottoman state.

The present research paper aims to :-

1-The main aim of the study is to correcting the error name given to the manuscript in the references.

2- Setting a framework for the story that is the subject of painting; in the light of what was mentioned about it in religious texts, books of interpretation and historical sources.

3-To discusses to which extant the painter was able to tell about the story (the subject of the Painting) as it is shown in the text of the manuscript and in religious texts..

4-Discussing the importance of the story and its indications, and explaining its impact on Islamic painting in general and Ottoman painting in particular.

5- To clarify the reflection of the use of the royal insignia and Ottoman functions on this painting.



Key words: Islamic Painting- Ottoman Painting- - Sultan Bayezid II -Religious manuscripts- Suleyman-Nama Manuscript- Balqis the Queen -The Prophet Suleyman- angels – demons.