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Illustrations of Ottomans, mid 19th century

Fenerci Mehmed Albumu
Istanbul University Library (İÜK) copy (inv. no. T.9362)

Sadrazam Bayraktar Mustafa Paṣa, “Merhumun resmidir, kırkbeṣ sene evvel” (y.1b) [reversed] vizir	Ṣeyhülislâm efendi, “Ṣeyhülislam elinde kâğıda fetvâ-yı ṣerif yazarıyorlar” (y.2b) grand mufti	Kethüda kadın efendi, “Yüzelli sene evvel Enderunda iffetli kethüda kadın efendi baṣına duduburnu tabir olunan bir baṣlık takar ve böyle giyinirdi” (y.3b) female steward of the harem
Kızlar ağası, “Kudretlü kızlar ağası” (y.4b) chief of the black eunuchs	Kapudan paṣa, “Kapudan paṣanın bayramlık esvabı” (y.5b) grand admiral	Silahdar ağa, “Ṣevketlü Efendi hazretlerinin silahdar ağasının bayramlarda giydiği kıyafettir” (y.6b) [reversed] sword bearer
Rikâbdar ağa, “Ṣevketlü efendimizin Enderunu Hümayun rikapdâr ağanın resmidir” (y.7b) [reversed?] palace page who holds the stirrup	Nakibüleṣraf efendi, “Ulemadan Rumeli kadı asker ve emirlerin baṣı” (y.8b) subordinate Nakib al Achraf for Europe, chief of sheriffs, descendants of Muhammad	Serkâtip, “Ṣevketlü efendimizin Enderunu Hümayun serkatibi efendinin resmidir” (y.9b) palace clerk
Sarıkçı baṣı, “Ṣevketlü efendimiz hazretleri cuma günü selamlığa alay ile teṣrif ederlerken beraberinde yün kavuk ve sarık götüren Sarıkçıbaṣının resmidir” (y.10b) [reversed] turban bearer	Yeniçeri ağası, “Yeniçeri ağası” (y.11b) [reversed] janissary commander	Reis efendi, “Kapuda reis efendi” (y.12b) [reversed] foreign minister
Solak Bey, ’Ṣevketlü efendimizin eski zamanda cuma günlerinde cami-i ṣeriflerinde ağanın yanı sıra beraber giden solak beyin resmidir” (y.13b) [reversed] peyk	Baṣ dilsiz, “ Enderun baṣ dilsizi” (y.14b) [reversed] chief mute	Devlet kethüdası, “Cümle rical-i Devlet-i Aliyye’nin baṣı” (y.15b) deputy prime minister and internal affairs minister
Devlet kethüdası, “Alayda devlet kethüdasının resmidir” (y.16b) deputy prime minister in an official procession	Kapu ağası, “Enderunu Hümayunda orta kapuyu bekleyen kapucu ak ağaların baṣı kapu ağasının resmidir” (y.17b) chief of the white eunuchs	Sancaktar ağası, “Sancaktar ağası Orduyu Hümayunda” (y.18b) [reversed] chief standard bearer
Ağalar ağası, “Ağalar ağası” (y.19b) chief of the agas	Atlı yol hasekisi, “ Ṣevketlü efendimizin eski zamanda atlı yol hasekisinin resmidir” (y.20b) Bostancı Haseki	Kahvecibaṣı, “ Daru’l saade ağası’nın kahveci baṣı” (y.21b) head coffee dispenser to the Kislar Aga
Ṣahincibaṣı, “Ṣahincibaṣı” (y.22b) [reversed]	Zağarcıbaṣı,” Zağarcıbaṣı” (y.23b) The 64th (Djémaat) “Orta” bore the name of Zagardji, and the leader had the title of Zagardji-bashi (guardian of bloodhounds).	Turnacıbaṣı, “Turnacıbaṣı” (y.24b) 6th ranked general of the Janissaries & commander of the 68th (Crane Keepers) Orta
Yeniçeri orta çavuṣu, “Yeniçeri orta çavuṣu” (y.25b) janissary regimental fourrier? or usher	Sipahiler çavuṣu, “Sipahiler çavuṣu” (y.26b)	Yeniçeri ustası, “Bayram alayında giydiği esvab ve kıyafetidir” (y.27b)
Vezir çuhadarı, “Sadrazamlar sefere gittikleri zaman bu kıyafette elbise giyerlerimiṣ zamanı sabıkta” (y.28b)	Kul kethüdası, “Kul kethüdası” (y.29b)	Yeniçerin tulumbacı, “Yeniçerilerin tulumbacı piri berberisinin resmidir” (y.30b) Fireman
Koz bekçi fenercisi, “Ṣevketlü efendimiz ramazanda Kadir Gecesi camiye teṣrif ederlerken önleri sıra kırmızı bürüncük fenerler çekildiğinin resmidir” (y.31b)	Sobacılar sakası, “Sobacılar sakası” (y.32b)

Thumbnail source : Turkish Cultural Foundation
Caption source : "Elbise-i Atika-i Osmaniye" by Ökkeş Hakan Çetin & Emine Ünzile Çelik, in History Studies, Vol. 12/Issue 6, December 2020, pp.3307-3331.



This album consists of 32 illustrations made with watercolor technique. There is no date or artist name in this album. Ottoman Turkish writings under each description present intresting information like identity of figures, their duties, clothes name (duduburnu), where (while attending procession, as imperial army) and when (festivals, when they go on campaign, as grace to mosque at night of Kadir) they are worn. With a painting style of those made before it, the depictions of Topkapi Palace Museum A. 3690 (1790-1800) and Fenerci Mehmet Album (1811) in Koç Private Collection, shows that the depictions are made as a whole. It is not a complete copy. It is made by imitation. Apart from the descriptions in these two similar albums, in this album the garments are painted in different colours, a few examples are unique, completely different illustrations. These depictions, which show a more traditional figure style than the clothes prepared by non-Muslim and Western artists in the same period, the details in the paintings having been taken into consideration, it was probably made by a Turkish artist or non-Muslim. Although it has traditional facial features and body proportions, it is understood that western painting had an effect on the painting and scanning technique and successfull light-shadow transmissions. In addition, the artist's elaboration and expression on the faces of the important figures can be explained by his mastership in portraiture.
Source: Elbise-i Atika-i Osmaniye by Dr. Ökkeş Hakan Çetin -Emine Ünzile Çelik