Iznik Tiles

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The extensive use of Iznik tiles is perhaps one of the most spectacular aspects of the Rüstem Pasha Mosque commissioned by the Grand Vizier and son-in-law of Sultan Süleyman (1566-1582). These tiles were produced by potters in the city of Iznik and increasingly gained popularity in the mid-sixteenth century. The tiles adorn the walls, piers and mihrab of the mosque’s interior. Their design predominantly consists of stylized floral patterns spread over multiple tiles. They were executed on a white slip in black, cobalt blue, turquoise, purple, and coral red, and covered by a transparent glaze. The Rüstem Pasha Mosque was designed by Sinan, the chief imperial architect who oversaw and planned approximately 3400 Ottoman buildings in Istanbul. This oil-sketch by Jean-Léon Gérome is a preparatory study for a larger painting. The artist painstakingly records the precise patterns of the tiles, focusing mostly on the qibla wall that faces Mecca and toward which Muslims pray. 

The Mosque
Iznik Tiles