Empire of the Sultans: Ottoman Art from the Khalili Collection

Rating:
Summary: fantastic exhibition
Review: I have attended "Empire of the Sultans" exhibition in San Francisco's Asian Art Museum multiple times. The new catalog has many helpful historical overviews which will help to orient the reader in rich history of Ottoman Empire and Islam. I was mostly impressed with maps, cutout calligraphy, illustrated prayer calendars, and calligraphy on dry leaves. Some of the scrolls of edicts from the time of zenith of Ottoman power (Suleiman the Magnificent) are executed in a wonderfully restrained style with just the hint of color and gold dust. A reader will have a great time with this catalog!