AN ILLUMINATED OTTOMAN QURAN BY HAFIZ ISMAIL HAKKI, TURKEY, 1272 AH/1855 AD

A complete Quran, Arabic manuscript on cream paper, each page with 15 lines written in black naskh script within gold and red rules, gold roundel verse markers outlined in polychrome dots. Surah headings in white thuluth script on a gilt ground within a decorated panel, gold and polychrome marginal floral motifs indicating the 'Juz'. Opening folio heavily with gilt and polychrome decoration framing 7 lines of black naskh script in clouds reserved against a sprinkled gold ground. Final folio signed by 'written by al-Faqir Hafiz Ismail Hakki student of Ali Al-Ramzi 1272 AH/1855 AD' within a roundel on a gilt and polychrome decorated ground.
In brown morocco binding with flap decorated with gold painted floral motifs.
12 by 16.5 cm.

THE CALLIGRAPHER
Hafiz Ismail Hakki was born in Uskudar and died in 1301 AH/1883 AD. He is buried in Uskudar-Karacaahmet Cemetery.
He completed his memorization of the Quran from Hüseyin Sabri Efendi at the Pistachio School, married his teacher's daughter and received his certificate by practicing thuluth and naskh. He moved to Muhsinzâde Abdullah Bey for perfectioning his calligraphy, and received his approval with a hilye-i bliss.
After completing his education, he became a calligrapher teacher at the Mülkî Mekteb in Paşakapısı. After completing the mosque lessons, he became the imam of Selimiye Mosque. After serving for a long time, he was promoted to the directorate of the school with the rank of director of Süleymaniye, but shortly after that he died in 1883-1884, although he was at a young age. He is buried in the place called "Martyrdom", around the Miskinler Lodge.