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'Saz'-Style Drawing of a Dragon Amid Foliage

Shah Quli Turkish
ca. 1540–50
Not on view
The mid‑sixteenth century saw the flourishing of the so‑called saz style—characterized by the depiction of stylized, serrated leaf foliage, often paired with fantastic creatures including dragons and phoenixes. This imagery appears on Ottoman art in a variety of media, including textiles. This magnificent dragon drawing is ascribed to the master of the style, Shah Quli, an artist who emigrated from Iran to Istanbul and became head of the royal atelier under Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: 'Saz'-Style Drawing of a Dragon Amid Foliage
  • Artist: Shah Quli (Turkish, born Tabriz, Iran, active ca. mid-16th century)
  • Date: ca. 1540–50
  • Geography: Attributed to Turkey, Istanbul
  • Medium: Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
  • Dimensions: Painting: H. 6 13/16 in. (17.3 cm)
    W. 10 11/16in. (27.2cm)
    Mat: H. 16 in. (40.6 cm)
    W. 22 in. (55.9 cm)
    Frame : H. 17 in. (43.2 cm)
    W. 23 in. (58.4 cm)
  • Classification: Codices
  • Credit Line: Bequest of Cora Timken Burnett, 1956
  • Object Number: 57.51.26
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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