The Ottoman Palace Artisans in 1545

Abstract

The art activities of the Ottoman State was carried out by three branches. These branches were Ottoman Palace Artisans who produced for Palace and the artisans who produced for army and the artists who produced for people. There are many registry books for palace artists. These registry books inform us about forty art groups and their payments who worked in organization. Mostly each registry book contains the payments for the duration of three months. The registerybook registered as the number of D 9706/4 in Topkapi Palace Archive is dated Muharrem-Safer-Rebiü'l-Evvel 952/15 March-11 June 1545. There are 776 artists and their payments in the registry book that includes thirty five art gronps. The other importance of the registerybook dated 1545 is that the origins of most artisans, either their hometowns or nationalities can be identitified the countries or nationalities of most artisans are obvious.