maybe by the sultan’s favorite in the harem—and that they were legendary for
a time！ I’m also convinced that for this very reason all the mediocre
miniaturists； muttering enviously to themselves； imitated this horse and
multiplied its image。 In this fashion； the wonderful horse with its nostrils
gradually became a model of form ingrained in the minds of the artists in that
workshop。 Years later； after their rulers were defeated in battle； these painters；
like somber women headed to other harems； found new shahs and princes to
work for in new countries； and carried with them； stowed in their memories；
the image of horses whose nostrils were elegantly cut open。 Perhaps under the
influence of different styles and different masters in different workshops；
many of the artists never made use of and eventually forgot this unusual
image which noheless remained preserved in a corner of their minds。
Others； however； in the new workshops they joined； not only drew elegant
clipped…nosed horses； they also taught their pretty apprentices to do the same
with the encouragement that ”this is how the old masters used to do it。“ So
then； in this manner； even after the Mongols and their hardy horses retreated
from the lands of the Persians and Arabs； even centuries after new lives had
begun in ravaged and burned cities； some painters continued drawing horses
this way； believing it was a standard form。 I’m also sure that others still；
pletely unaongol cavalry and the clipped noses
of their steeds； draw horses the way we do in our workshop； insisting that this
too is ”a standard form。“”
“My dear master；” I said； overwhelmed with awe； “as we hoped； your
”courtesan method‘ truly did produce an answer。 It seems that each artist also
bears his own hidden signature。“
“Not each artist； but each workshop；” he said with pride。 “And not even
each workshop。 In certain miserable workshops； as in certain miserable
families； everyone speaks in a different voice for years without acknowledging
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that happiness is born of harmony； and that as a matter of course； harmony
bees happiness。 Some painters try to illustrate like the Chinese； some like
the Turkmen and some like they do in Shiraz； fighting for years on end； never
attaining a happy union—like a discontented husband and wife。”
I saw that pride quite definitely ruled his face； the cross expression of a man
who wanted to be all powerful had now replaced the look of the morose；
pitiable old man that I’d seen him wear for so long。
“My dear master；” I said； “over a period of twenty years here in Istanbul；
you’ve united various artists from the four corners of the world； men of all
natures and temperaments； in such harmony that you’ve ended up creating
and defining the Ottoman style。”
Why did the awe that I’d felt wholeheartedly only a short time ago give way
to hypocrisy as I voiced my feelings？ For our praise of a man； whose talent and
mastery genuinely astounds us； to be sincere； must he lose most of his
authority and influence and bee slightly pathetic？
“Now then； where’s that dwarf hiding？” he said。
He said this the way powerful men who are pleased by flattery and praise
but recollect vaguely that they ought not be would—as though he wished to
change the subject。
“Despite being a great master of Persian legends and styles； you’ve created a
distinct world of illustration worthy of Ottoman glory and strength；” I
whispered。 “You’re the one who brought to art the power of the Ottoman
sword； the optimistic colors of Ottoman victory； the interest in and attention
to objects and implements； and the freedom of a fortable lifestyle。 My
dear master； it’s been the greatest honor of my life to look at these
masterpieces by the old legendary masters with you…”
For a long time I whispered on in this manner。 Within the icy darkness and
cluttered disarray of the Treasury； which resembled a recently abandoned
battlefield； our bodies were so close that my whispering became an expression
of intimacy。
Later； as with certain blind men who can’t control their facial expressions；
Master Osman’s eyes assumed the look of an old man lost in pleasure。 I
praised the old master at length； now with heartfelt emotion； now shuddering
with the inner revulsion I felt toward the blind。
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He held my hand with his cold fingers； caressed my forearm and touched
my face。 His strength and age seemed to pass through his fingers into me。 I；
again； thought of Shekure who awaited me at home。
Standing still that way for a time； pages opened before us； it was as if my
lavish praise and his self…admiration and self…pity had so fatigued us that we
were resting。 We’d bee embarrassed of each other。
“Where’s that dwarf gone to？” he asked again。
I was certain that the wily dwarf was hiding in some niche watching us。 As
if I were searching him out； I turned my shoulders right and left； but kept my
eyes trained attentively on Master Osman。 Was he truly blind or was he trying
to convince the world； including himself； that he was blind？ I’d heard that
some untalented and inpetent old masters from Shiraz feigned blindness
in their old age to curry respect and to prevent others from mentioning their
failures。
“I would like to die here；” he said。
“My great master； my dear sir；” I fawned； “in this age when value is placed
not on painting but on the money one can earn from it； not on the old
masters but on imitators of the Franks； I so well understand what you’re
saying that it brings tears to my eyes。 Yet it is also your duty to protect your
master illustrators from their enemies。 Please tell me； what conclusions have
you drawn from the ”courtesan method‘？ Who is the miniaturist who painted
that horse？“
“Olive。”
He’d said this with such ease that I had no chance to be surprised。
He fell silent。
“But I’m also certain that Olive wasn’t the one who murdered your Enishte
or unfortunate Elegant Effendi；” he said calmly。 “I believe that Olive drew the
horse because he’s the one who’s most bound to the old masters； who knows
most intimately the legends and styles of Herat and whose master…apprentice
genealogy stretches back to Samarkand。 Now I know you won’t ask me； ”Why
haven’t we encountered these nostrils in the other horses that Olive drew over
the years？“ since I’ve already mentioned how at times a detail—the wing of a
bird； the way a leaf is attached to a tree—can be preserved in memory for
generations； passing from master to apprentice； and yet might not manifest on
the page due to the influence of a moody or rigid master or on account of the
particular tastes and whims of a particular workshop or sultan。 So then； this is
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the horse that dear Olive； in his childhood； learned directly from the Persian
masters without ever being able to forget it。 The fact that the horse suddenly
appeared for the sake of Enishte’s book is a cruel trick of Allah’s。 Hadn’t all of
us taken the old masters of Herat as our models？ Just like the Turkmen
illustrators for whom the face of a beautiful woman meant one with Chinese
features； didn’t we think exclusively of the masterpieces of Herat when we
thought of well…executed pictures？ We are all their devoted admirers。
Nourishing all great art is the Herat of Bihzad； and supporting this Herat are
the Mongol horsemen and the Chinese。 Why should Olive； thoroughly bound
to the legends of Herat； murder poor Elegant Effendi； who was even more
bound—even blindly devoted—to the same old methods？”
“Who then？” I said。 “Butterfly？”
“Stork！” he said。 “This is what I know in my heart of hearts； for I am well
acquainted with his greed and fury。 Listen； in all probability while gilding for
your Enishte； who foolishly and clumsily imitated Frankish methods； poor
Elegant Effendi came to believe that this venture might somehow be
dangerous。 Since he was enough of a dolt to listen earnestly to the drivel of
that foolish preacher from Erzurum—unfortunately； masters of gilding；
though closer to God than painters； are also boring and stupid—and
moreover； because he knew your silly Enishte’s book was an important project
of the Sultan； his fears and doubts clashed： Should he believe in his Sultan or
in the preacher from Erzurum？ Any other time this unfortunate child； whom I
knew like the back of my hand； would’ve e to me about a dilemma that
was eating away at him。 But even he； with his bird brain； knew very well that
the act of gilding for your Enishte； that mimic of the Franks； amounted to a
betrayal of me and our guild； and so he sought another confidant。 He confided
in the wily and ambitious Stork and made the mistake of letting himself be
awed by the intellect and morality of a man whose talent impressed him。 I’ve
seen plenty of times how Stork manipulated Elegant Effendi by taking
advantage of the poor gilder’s admiration。 Whatever argument took place
between them； it resulted in Elegant Effendi’s murder at Stork’s hands。 And
since the deceased long ago confided his worries to the Erzurumis； they； in a
fit of vengeance and to demonstrate their power； went on to kill your
Frankophile Enishte； whom they held responsible for the death of their
panion。 I can’t say that I’m all that sorry about the whole matter。 Years
ago； your Enishte duped Our Sultan into having a Veian painter—his name
was Sebastiano—make a portrait of His Excellency in the Frankish style as if He
were an infidel king。 Not satisfied with that； in a disgraceful affront to my
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dignity； he had this shameful work given to me as a model to be copied； and
out of dire fear of Our Sultan； I dishonorably copied that picture which was
made using infidel methods。 Had I not been forced to do that； perhaps I could
grieve for your Enishte； and today help find the scoundrel who killed him。 But
my concern is not for your Enishte； it’s for my workshop。 Your Enishte is
responsible for the way my master miniaturists—whom I love more than if
they were my own children； whom I trained with doting attention for twenty…
five years—betrayed me and our entire artistic tradition； he’s to blame for
their enthusiastic imitation of European masters with the justification that ”it
is the will of Our Sultan。“ Each of those disgraceful masters deserves nothing
but torture！ If we； the society of miniaturists； learn to serve foremost our own
talent and art instead of Our Sultan who provides us with work； we shall have
earned entry through the Gates of Heaven。 Now then； I’d like to study this
book alone。”
Master