OTTOMAN ISTANBUL, TURKEY, CIRCA 1790-1800

This folio, and that of the following lot come from a copy of the Zenanname, or the ‘Attributes of Ladies of Many Lands’ of Husayn Fazl Beg (also known as Fazil-i Enderuni, circa 1757-1810). The text was produced for a Turkish patron during the last quarter of the 18^th century. We know that Husayn Fazl Beg began his education in the imperial palace in 1776 and was disgraced after he was implicated in a romantic scandal and expelled in 1783-4. He lived a life of poverty in Istanbul for a period of twelve years and after being pardoned in 1799 was again disgraced and banished to Rhodes, where he lost his sight. It was likely during his periods of disgrace that he gained the experience upon which he wrote the erotic verses for which he became notorious. His works include the Defter-i ‘ask, a versified journal of his love affairs; the Hubanname, a celebration of beautiful youths from the Ottoman Empire and beyond; the Çengîname, on the dancing boys of Istanbul; and the Zenanname, on girls, their qualities and defects (Rogers 1995, p.228). Both the Zenanname and the Hubanname build upon the Ottoman vogue for costume albums, see for instance an album in the Topkapi, illustrated by Levni between 1710-20 (TSM,H.2164).

Another folio which appears to be from the same original manuscript, which depicts a genre scene of a birth in the harem, is now in the LACMA (formerly in the collection of Edwin Binney 3^rd, M.85.237.100). Folios from a related copy of the Zenanname were sold in these Rooms, 12 October 1978, lots 44 and 45, now in the Khalili Collection (MSS817.1-3); and the British Museum (1946,0209,0.1). Complete copies of the Zenanname are in Istanbul University, dated AH 1206⁄1791-2 AD (IUK, MS.T.5502) and in the British Library, dated AH 1190 / 1774 AD (Or.7094). A complete copy of the Hubanname is in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (M.91.93).