thuluth script

''Thuluth'' ( ar, ثُلُث, ' or ar, خَطُّ الثُّلُثِ, '; fa, ثلث, ''Sols''; Turkish: ''Sülüs'', from ' "one-third") is a script variety of Islamic calligraphy. The straight angular forms of Kufic were replaced in the new script by curved and oblique lines. In ''Thuluth'', one-third of each letter slopes, from which the name (meaning "a third" in Arabic) comes. An alternative theory to the meaning is that the smallest width of the letter is one third of the widest part. It is an elegant, cursive script, used in medieval times on mosque decorations. Various calligraphic styles evolved from ''Thuluth'' through slight changes of form.

History

The greatest contributions to the evolution of the ''Thuluth'' script occurred in the Ottoman Empire in three successive steps that Ottoman art historians call "calligraphical revolutions":

*The first revolution occurred in the 15th century and was initiated by the master calligrapher Sheikh Hamdullah.
*The second revolution resulted from the work of the Ottoman calligrapher Hâfız Osman in the 17th century.Ali, Wijdan.
From the Literal to the Spiritual: The Development of Prophet Muhammad's Portrayal from 13th Century Ilkhanid Miniatures to 17th Century Ottoman Art
". In ''Proceedings of the 11th International Congress of Turkish Art'', eds. M. Kiel, N. Landman, and H. Theunissen. No. 7, 1–24. Utrecht, The Netherlands, August 23–28, 1999, p. 7
*Finally, in the late 19th century, Mehmed Şevkî Efendi gave the script the distinctive shape it has today.

Artists

The best known artist to write the ''Thuluth'' script at its zenith is said to be Mustafa Râkım Efendi (1757–1826), a painter who set a standard in Ottoman calligraphy which many believe has not been surpassed to this day.Journal of Ottoman Calligraphy :: RAKIM: “Mustafa Rakim” (1757 - 1826) :: April :: 2006

Usage

''Thuluth'' was used to write the headings of surahs, Qur'anic chapters. Some of the oldest copies of the Qur'an were written in ''Thuluth''. Later copies were written in a combination of ''Thuluth'' and either Naskh or Muhaqqaq. After the 15th century Naskh came to be used exclusively.

The script is used in the Flag of Saudi Arabia where its text, ''Shahada al Tawhid'', is written in ''Thuluth''.

Style

An important aspect of ''Thuluth'' script is the use of ''harakat'' (''"hareke"'' in Turkish) to represent vowel sounds and of certain other stylistic marks to beautify the script. The rules governing the former are similar to the rules for any Arabic script. The stylistic marks have their own rules regarding placement and grouping which allow for great creativity as to shape and orientation. For example, one grouping technique is to separate the marks written below letters from those written above.

Scripts developed from ''Thuluth''

Since its creation, ''Thuluth'' has given rise to a variety of scripts used in calligraphy and over time has allowed numerous modifications. ''Jeli'' ''Thuluth'' was developed for use in large panels, such as those on tombstones. ''Muhaqqaq'' script was developed by widening the horizontal sections of the letters in ''Thuluth''. ''Naskh'' script introduced a number of modifications resulting in smaller size and greater delicacy. ''Tawqi'' is a smaller version of Thuluth.

'' Ruq'ah'' was probably derived from the ''Thuluth'' and Naskh styles, the latter itself having originated from ''Thuluth''.

Gallery

File:Khalili Collection Islamic Art qur 0497 fol 34b-35a.jpg, Double-page from the Qur'an in thuluth copied for the Zangid Qutb ad-Din Muhammad (1198 - 1219). Khalili Collection of Islamic Art
File:Thuluth - Yaqut al-Mustasimi.jpg, Line in thuluth written by Yaqut al-Musta'simi (d. 1298). Library of Congress
File:محراب اولجایتو.jpg, Mihrab in the winter prayer hall of the Jameh Mosque of Isfahan with inscription in carved stucco in thuluth designed by Haydar (d. 1325/1326)
File:Khalili Collection Islamic Art gls 0172.4.jpg, Mamluk enamelled flask. Its shoulder bears a wide band with a dedication to an unnamed sultan in thuluth. Egypt or Syria, first half of the 14th century. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art
File:Illuminated opening of the Mamluk Qur'an (National Library of Egypt Masahif Rasid 14, ff.1b-2a).jpg, Opening pages from the Mamluk Qur'an with first verse of Al-Fatiha in monumental thuluth script. Egypt, late 1350s. Egyptian National Library

Album leaf (CBL T 426, f.1a).jpg, Album leaf from muraqqa by Sheikh Hamdullah in thuluth (upper panel) and naskh script. Istanbul, between 1500 - 1520 (illumination from 18th century). Chester Beatty Library
Southern Portal - Taj Mahal - Agra 2014-05-14 3793.JPG, Inscription in thuluth at the Southern Portal of Taj Mahal, designed by Amanat Khan Shirazi. Agra, between 1631 - 1638
Album leaf from a Muraqqa by Hafiz Osman (MIK I. 1985.11.9).jpg, Album leaf from muraqqa by Hâfiz Osman in thuluth (upper panel) and naskh script. Istanbul, 1693/1694. Museum of Islamic Art, Berlin
Signed Mustafa Rakım - Levha (calligraphic inscription) - Google Art Project.jpg, Levha (calligraphic inscription) in jeli thuluth by Mustafa Râkim. Istanbul, between 1809 - 1826. Sakıp Sabancı Museum
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg, Flag of Saudi Arabia with shahada in thuluth

References

External links

Thuluth Script

{{Arabic language

Arabic calligraphy
Islamic calligraphy