Tughra of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent Museum Label
Title: Tughra (official signature) of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent
Date: 1555-60
Medium: Opaque watercolour, ink, & gold on paper (20 ½ x 25 ½ in.)
Credit Line: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY
Süleyman, a member of the Ottoman royalty, was a skilled goldsmith, accomplished poet in Persian and Turkish, and a passionate patron of the arts credited with inspiring the "Golden Age of Ottoman Art.” Artists from across the world flocked to Istanbul to work within his court. A materialised example of Süleyman’s artistic vision was his very own tughra. The tughra was the calligraphic emblem that appeared on the top of Süleyman’s official documents. The calligraphy was elaborate to prevent forgeries, containing his name, titles, the name of his father, and the phrase “eternally victorious.” As such, Süleyman’s tughra represented his artistic vision, power, and legitimacy as the Magnificent.
See the full Catalogue Entry HERE.