Arts of the golden age of the Ottoman Empire
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- Start Date: 26 Feb 2026End Date: 26 Mar 2026Thu (Daytime): 14:00 - 16:00OnlineFull fee £149.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £97.00
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What is the course about?
Founded at the end of the 13th century, the Ottoman dynasty rapidly amassed an Empire that linked the East and the West, and lasted for over 600 years.
The focus of the arts of the Ottoman Empire - the visual and cultural expression of Imperial power - was centred at the residence of the Sultans, the Topkapi Sarayi palace complex in Istanbul (formerly Constantinople).
Here at the Imperial workshops artists collected from conquered cities in Iran, Iraq, Egypt and the Balkans. The masters trained new artists, and a distinctive visual language was created, that was dispersed out to the numerous workshops and production centres in Turkey and beyond. In addition, artists of the Italian Renaissance were brought to the court to contribute new ideas and techniques.
In this course we will examine how this distinctive fusion style developed during the 15th – 17th centuries, looking at the work of important architects, calligraphers, designers and painters, and the Imperial vision of key royal patrons during this vibrant period of expansion and assimilation.
What will we cover?
• Historical context and key royal patrons.
• The assimilation of art and artists from conquered regions
• The structure of the royal workshops and important artists and designers who served in them.
• Architecture, the Book Arts, Ceramics, Textiles and other Decorative Arts.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Name two key royal Ottoman patrons.
• Name four important artists, architects or designers who helped shape the Ottoman vision.
• Describe the technical background of any one Ottoman craft tradition that has sustained until the present day.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for all levels.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information as well as basic functions of Zoom, specifically microphone and camera.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught online with slide presentations and group discussions. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course; these handouts will be available online/digitally for download. These materials will be available online/digitally for download via a Google Classroom. You will be invited to join this Google Classroom within a week of the start of your course.
Please note: this is a live course and will not be recorded for reasons of copyright, data protection and digital infrastructure.Please note: this is a live course and will not be recorded for reasons of copyright, data protection and digital infrastructure.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Arts of the empire-builders: Timurids, Safavids and Mughals
The art of Byzantium
Anita Chowdry is a London based visual artist, educator and researcher. Her particular interest is in the arts of the Islamic World and South Asia, and the materials and processes that went into them. She has an M.A. in Art and Science from Central Saint Martin’s UAL, and is currently engaged in the codicological study of a group of 15th Century Turcoman manuscripts at the Bodleian Library, Oxford. Anita has over 30 years’ experience teaching art and process to adults and professional groups, covering major institutions in the UK and abroad.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
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