Book of Felicity - Matali’ al-saadet

In the second half of the 16th century, the Ottoman Empire stretched from Budapest to Baghdad, from Oman to Tunisia and to Mecca and Medina. Important cities such as Damascus, Alexandria, and Cairo were under Ottoman rule. Sultan Murad III (1546–95) ruled over his empire from Constantinople. The educated and art-loving sultan had employed the most talented architects, painters, sculptors, calligraphers, poets, etc. in his harem. Under him, the fantastic Turkish-Ottoman painting of the 16th and 17th centuries came to full bloom. The Sultan brought up 47 children. He had a special gift made for his daughter Fatima, namely the Book of Felicity. It contains the most outstanding and influential miniatures of Ottoman illumination.

The Astounding Manuscript

The Book of Felicity was produced in 1582. The text of the work is the translation of an Arabic manuscript by Muhammad ibn Amir Hassan al-Su’udi. The design of all the miniatures occurred under the supervision of the famous illuminator Ustad ‘Osman. ‘Osman himself is responsible for the pictures that introduce the book and demonstrate similarities with the twelve signs of the zodiac. The gifted master created a style that was famous for its astonishingly lifelike painting style. His style markedly influenced other painters at the court of Murad.

Spiritual and Exotic Miniatures

The codex describes personal characteristics with regard to the respective zodiac signs in detail. Masterful miniatures accompany these descriptions and show how human destinies can be changed through the influence of the stars. Some illustrations concern themselves with the interpretation of dreams, others with the prediction of the future. The manuscript shows mysterious figures in unusual poses who are dressed in luminously colorful garments, it shows opulent palaces and mosques. Similarly, countless animals such as peacocks, sea monsters, and exotic bids are illustrated. The work takes the beholder along on a trip through the fantastic eastern World of the Middle Ages.