Depiction of the 1396 Battle of Nicopolis from the Hünername, 1584–88, by Nakkaş Osman. Topkapı Palace The Hünername (“Book of Talents”) is a famous illustrated Ottoman manuscript produced at the imperial court between 1584 and 1588 and preserved in Topkapı Palace. Written in two volumes and decorated with 89 double-page miniatures, it recounts the history of the Ottoman sultans, especially Suleiman the Magnificent.
The work was begun by court historians Fethullah Arifi Çelebi and Shirvanli Eflatun, then later continued under Sultan Murad III by Seyyid Lokman, likely under the patronage of Grand Vizier Sokollu Mehmed Pasha. Although four volumes were originally planned, only two were completed. The illustrations were created in the imperial workshop directed by Nakkaş Osman.
The first volume covers the first nine Ottoman sultans and includes portraits and stories emphasizing their bravery and wisdom. The second volume focuses entirely on Suleiman the Magnificent, portraying him as the ideal ruler through scenes of war, hunting, generosity, and piety. Rather than telling a straightforward narrative, it presents Suleiman as a near-perfect sovereign closely connected to the Prophet, while also highlighting the importance of Sokollu Mehmed Pasha.
