appeared everywhere; matching the tastes of mon soldiers; boorish pashas
and spoiled princes。”
“How much would they go for?” asked Master Osman。
62
“I hear that the great Sadiki Bey illustrated a copy of Strange Creatures;
missioned by an Uzbek spahi cavalryman; for only forty gold pieces。 In the
tent of a vulgar pasha who was returning from his Eastern campaign to
Erzurum; I beheld an album consisting of lewd pictures including paintings by
the virtuoso Siyavush。 A few great masters who hadn’t abandoned illustrating
were making and selling individual pieces; which weren’t part of any story at
all。 By examining such single leaves; you couldn’t tell which scene or which
story it represented; rather; you would admire it for its own sake; for the
pleasure of beholding alone。 For example; you might ment; ”This is the
exact likeness of a horse; how beautiful;“ and you’d pay the artist on this basis。
Scenes of bat or fucking are quite mon。 The price for a bustling battle
has fallen to three hundred silver coins; and there are hardly any interested
clients。 To sell pieces on the cheap and to better lure a buyer; some simply
draw in black ink on nonsized; unfinished paper with nary a brushstroke of
color。”
“There was a gilder of mine who was content as content could be and
talented as talent would allow;” said Master Osman。 “He saw to his work with
such elegance that we referred to him as ”Elegant Effendi。“ But he has
abandoned us。 It’s been six days; and he’s not to be found anywhere。 He’s
plain disappeared。”
“How could anyone quit such a workshop as this; such a joyous hearth?” I
said。
“Butterfly; Olive; Stork and Elegant; the four young masters whom I’ve
trained since they were apprentices; now work at home at Our Sultan’s
behest;” said Master Osman。
This apparently came about so they could work more fortably on the
Book of Festivities with which the entire workshop was involved。 This time; the
Sultan hadn’t arranged for a special workspace for His master miniaturists in
the palace courtyard; rather; He decreed that they work on this special book at
home。 When it occurred to me that this order was probably issued for the sake
of my Enishte’s book; I fell silent。 To what degree was Master Osman making
insinuations?
“Nuri Effendi;” he called to a pale and hunched painter; “present Our
Master Black with a ”survey‘ of the workshop!“
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