Levni's paintings
The original Turkish notes accompanying the images are by Dr Mertol Tulum, who also transcribed the Ottoman text into the Latin alphabet and translated it into modern Turkish. English translations, additions, and comments to the notes are by Robert Bragner.
It should be pointed out that text in the Arabic alphabet is written from right to left and that books that are composed in that alphabet are read in the same way--from right to left or, as we would put it in English, "from back to front". Levni's double-page images are constructed such that the figures in them sometimes move from right to left and sometimes from left to right; sometimes they are motionless on the two pages and sometimes they snake across them. In all cases however, the sequential ordering of the images in time is right page first and left page second and this is the order in which they should be viewed.
From time to time, words in the text are linked. If you click on the link, you will be taken sometimes to a gloss on the word or phrase, sometimes to a detail image, and sometimes to another image page. Use your "Back" button to return to where you were.
Extended quotes from Vehbi's text are presented in gray
rather than in white.
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1b-2a: Prologue & Introduction |
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6b-7a: The arrival of the sultan and princes at Eski Saray and their tour of the grounds to see the festival-trees and candy-gardens |
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10b-11a: Okmeydanı being made ready for the festivities |
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12b-13a: The arrival of Grand Vizier İbrahim Pasha and his reception at the imperial pavilion |
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13b-14a: The arrival of the sultan at Okmeydanı: Beginning of the procession |
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14b-15a: The arrival of the sultan at Okmeydanı: Middle of the procession |
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15b-16a: The arrival of the sultan at Okmeydanı: End of the procession |
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17b-18a: The grand vizier receives Mehmed Pasha, a former vizier and steward to the queen mother |
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20b-21a: Members of the Imperial Council and the heads of the corps being received by the sultan |
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21b-22a: The first performances and the banquet for the Janissary corps |
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22b-23a: The banquet for high-ranking government officials |
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26b-27a:The grand vizier's.gifts are presented to the sultan |
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29b-30a: Fireworks displays at Okmeydanı at the end of the first day |
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30b-31a: Musicians and dancers performing before the grand vizier |
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32b-33a: The Egyptian players’ performances |
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34b-35a: Leaders of the Ulema being received by the sultan |
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36b-37a: The game of foot-jereed and the procession of the boys to be circumcised |
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38b-39a: The land-sailing war galley and the performance of the Arsenal corps |
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40b-41a: The Artillerymen’s revolving fortress drawn by a mechanical elephant |
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43b-44a: The banquet for the chief justices and kadis |
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45b-46a: Fireworks displays at Okmeydanı on the second night of the festival |
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47b-48a: Performances by acrobats, singers, dancers, and a tightrope-walker |
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50b-51a: The evening's entertainment before Aynalıkavak Palace |
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52b-53a: Concert, animal acts, and Egyptian performers |
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54b-55a: More performances by Hajji Şahin and his troupe |
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56b-57a: The reception for the sheiks of the imperial mosques in Istanbul. More feats by Hajji Şahin, tightrope-walkers, and the procession of boys |
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58b-59a: The banquet for the sheiks and seyyids |
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60b-61a: The grand vizier receives a horse presented by the sultan as a.gift |
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63b-64a: Evening entertainment before Aynalikavak Palace |
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65b-66a: Performances on the fifth day: A magician, Hajji Şahin and his troupe, tightrope-walkers, and dancers |
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67b-68a: Addicts put on a show with snakes and bears |
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68b-69a: The banquet for the imams and preachers of the imperial mosques |
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72b-73a: Dancers and musicians, a daredevil performance by a tightrope walker, and an Ottoman-style "auto-da-fe" |
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75b-76a: The parade of the guildsmen: Farmers, millers, and bread-makers |
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77b-78a: The parade of the guildsmen: Butchers, cooks, and tanners |
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79b-80a: The parade of the guildsmen: Candlemakers and barbers |
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83b-84a: More performances by the Egyptians. The pitcher of silver coins is set on the mast |
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85b-86a: The banquet for the commanders and officers of the imperial cavalry units |
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89b-90a: Evening entertainment before Aynalıkavak Palace |
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92b-93a: Daytime spectacles in the sea before Aynalıkavak Palace |
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97b-98a: The attack on the revolving fortress with the help of the land-sailing galley |
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100b-101a: Evening fireworks displays at Okmeydanı |
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107b-108a: The parade of the guildsmen: Tentmakers, shoemakers, grocers, fruit-dealers, turban-makers, quilt-makers, and fabric-merchants |
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110b-111a: The pashas present their.gifts |
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112b-113a: Evening entertainment on the Golden Horn |
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115b-116a: Acrobats, musicians, prestidigitators, and wrestlers |
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120b-121a: The parade of the guildsmen: Coppersmiths, goldsmiths, tailors, and silk-workers |
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122b-123a: The banquet for the commanders and officers of the Bostanji and Privy Stables corps and for the Enderun Huntsmen |
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125b-126a: Evening entertainment on the Golden Horn |
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129b-130a: The parade of the guildsmen: Jeweler-goldsmiths, beeswax-workers, flea market merchants, tinsmiths, spice-dealers, coffee-dealers, and flax-workers |
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131b-132a: The Egyptians performing to the accompaniment of the military band |
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139b-140a: The parade of the guildsmen: Gold and silver thread-makers, blacksmiths, sendal-weavers, silk brocade-weavers, saddlers, and goat hair cloth-weavers |
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157b-158a The circumcision parade: Janissaries and their officers |
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158b-159a: The circumcision parade: Officials of the Imperial Divan and kadis |
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159b-160a: The circumcision parade: Gatekeepers and surgeons |
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160b-161a: The circumcision parade: Superintendent of the Procession and the steward of the Arsenal |
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161b-162a: The circumcision parade: Candy-gardens and festival-trees |
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162b-163a: The circumcision parade: Candy-gardens and confectionery sculpture |
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163b-164a: The circumcision parade: Chiefs of the Exchequer, chief secretary, and superintendent of the Registry |
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164b-165a: The circumcision parade: Chief justices and four viziers |
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165b-166a: The circumcision parade: The grand vizier and sheikulislam |
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166b-167a: The circumcision parade: Bostanjis and officers of the Privy Stables |
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167b-168a: The circumcision parade: Seyyids and spare horses |
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168b-169a: The circumcision parade: The sultan and Prince Süleyman |
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169b-170a: The circumcision parade: Princes Mehmed and Mustafa |
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170b-171a: The circumcision parade: Chiefs of the Black and White Eunuchs and Enderun officials |
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171b-172a: The circumcision parade: The military band |
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172b-173a: The circumcision parade: The end |
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173b-174a: The princes’ circumcision ceremonies |
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174b-175a: The sultan strews gold coins |
Notes
1. Linked: If you click on the link, you will be taken sometimes to a gloss on the word or phrase, sometimes to a detail image, and sometimes to another image page. Use your "Back" button to return to where you were.
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