Şevki Efendinin Sülüs ve Nesih Meşk Murakkaı ve Elif Kasidesi

This work features the life of Şevki Efendi, one of the leading calligraphers of the 19th century who gave the final harmony and pure beauty to thuluth and naskh scripts, and his mesk murakka (calligraphy album) preserved in the Ekrem Hakkı Ayverdi Calligraphy Collection. It is said that Mehmed Şevki Efendi (d. 1304/1887) attained the level of “fena fi’l-hat” (obliteration of the self in the art of calligraphy). With a great passion for art, he devoted his entire life to calligraphy, never straying from the path of Hâfız Osman and İsmâil Zühdü in thuluth and naskh, drawing inspiration from their fine script and spirit, and by refining his calligraphy each passing day, he established his own style after the 1860s. Şevki Efendi left behind numerous works for the art world in the form of mushafs, Dala’il al-Khayrat, hilyes, panels, qit‘as, and murakkas, which are housed in private collections, museums, and libraries. In the field of jali thuluth, he produced works following the path of Mustafa Râkım. This rare work, found in the Ekrem Hakkı Ayverdi Calligraphy Collection, meets art lovers once again in its new edition, accompanied by the Alif Qasida.