Exploration of the new world: Târîh-i Hind-i Garbî hadîs-i nev (İstanbul Topkapı palace museum library r.1488)and its pictures

In this research, the pictures of illuminated manuscript, which has written by an unknown author, named Târih-i Hind-i Garbi (TSM. R. 1488) in Topkapı Palace Library, have been examined. The manuscript is conceived in two parts. First part is a brief explanation of creation of the world, the nature of the universe and characteristics of four elements which are earth, fire, water and air. The more interesting and significant part of the manuscript is the geographical description of the New World. The text of the manuscript is a combination of five different books about America. There are of 13 illustrated or non-illustrated copies of Târih-i Hind-i Garbi preserved in various collections in Europe and America.Within the scope of the research a total of 16 pictures have been assessed. The nakkash of small scaled and vivid colored pictures is anonymous. It is obvious that the illuminations of the manuscript might be drawn by the same artist. The pictures simple compositions which are naïve and have been drawn based on the text. In the manuscript there are two maps showing the East and West hemisphere. The maps have some crucial geographical errors and they also placed upside down. The subjects of the other pictures are various exotic plants and creatures of The New World. Nakkash has painted them based on the species that he had already acknowledged. Furthermore, landscape of Patosi city and the mythical Vakvâk Tree are also some of the many interesting pictures of the manuscript. It is thought that the pictures have been drawn based on previous examples or the narrations of the sailors.On the other hand, the copy of the same book which is preserved in İstanbul Beyazıt Library is designed more attentively both in style and ornament. Probably this copy has been presented to Murad III, the copy which is been examined in this research, might have been designed for sultan?s daughters or one of his palace agas not for the sultan in the second half of sixteenth century.Key Words: Ottoman, manuscript, illustration, nakkash