Page 105 - READING COMPANION TO ENGLISH EXAMS

6.2 FINE ARTS

Painting History with Fine Brushes: The Art of Miniature

The Turks portrayed influential events and cultural elements during their pre-Islamic history. They used
peculiarly shaped textiles, ceramics, wood, and leather, most of which have survived to the present day.
(1)
Among the manuscripts in the Uygur library, there is one dating back to 868, which contains the world’s oldest
known illustration. With the influence of Islamic culture, this art was followed up with the art of miniature,
introducing new guidelines for detailed depiction. The first school of miniatures was established in Baghdad
by Seljuk Turks, and it strikingly survived until the end of the 14 century. The style of the miniature artists
th
(2)
continued to be influenced by ancient Uygur drawings and traditional stories until the reign of Tamerlane, during
th
which they usually illustrated romantic stories and fables pictured within scenic backgrounds. In the 15 century,
following the conquest of İstanbul, the art of miniature grew into a new phase, involving the creation of intricate
scenes depicting historical events, religious stories, court life, and more. Miniature artists were known as
‘nakkashes’ and were tutored for years to use fine brushes and shading techniques to create details requiring
great skill and endurance. They did not adhere strictly to a realistic perspective; instead, they prioritised
(4)
(3)
presenting information and narrative over strict realism. Even after the decline of the empire, the unique
techniques and style of Ottoman miniatures were not obsolete; they continued to inspire later generations of
(5)
fine artists.

a Choose the antonyms of the highlighted and numbered words in the passage.
1. A sincerely B commonly C definitely D consciously

2. A unremarkably B inevitably C abnormally D notably
3. A significance B predominance C tolerance D impatience

4. A differentiate B dissociate C exaggerate D terminate
5. A revolutionary B extraordinary C contemporary D complementary

b Replace the words and phrases in bold with the ones given below. Change the form if
necessary.

endurance grow into influential strikingly
follow up illustrate manuscript

1. Archaeologists found some old handwritten documents next to the excavation area, where they have
indeed been looking for mosaic ruins.
2. A group of graphic designers and editors has been working hard on picturing the world classics for
children, as it is in high demand.
3. The power of the fine arts lies in their ability to deeply affect individuals by evoking emotions and thoughts
that cross the boundaries of time and culture.
4. The painter’s replica series continued with one of the masterpieces of Osman Hamdi Bey, recreating the
fine details and revealing the essence of his artistic vision.
5. The process of producing the artwork was hardly bearable, but the nakkash’s patient and focused
behaviour showed that he was going to create a masterpiece of his time.
6. One of the most surprising facts about artists in history is their ability to create timeless works of art that
can captivate audiences even centuries later.
7. Modern art has gradually changed to a diverse and dynamic style with a wide range of perspectives that
reflect the nature of contemporary society.

104
Ortaöğretim Genel Müdürlüğü Öğretim Programları ve Ders Kitapları Daire Başkanlığı