( fl 1700–1720s; d 1732). Ottoman painter. Better known by his pen name Levni, he was the foremost court painter during the Tulip Period, the second classical age of Ottoman art in the first quarter of the 18th century. The artist revived the classical tradition of the 16th century and was the last great illustrator of manuscripts in the Islamic world (see ISLAMIC ART, §III, 4(vi)(e)). His works reflect the last flowering of the genre of historical painting, while avoiding European features adopted by his contemporaries. Levni is first mentioned by Demetrius Cantemir, prince of Moldavia, as the sultan’s portraitist (musavvir) responsible for the portraits that Cantemir copied in his book, The History of the Growth and Decay of the Ottoman Empire (1734–5). According to the Ottoman biographer Ayvansarayli (d 1787), Levni came from Edirne to Istanbul where he began as an apprentice decorator–painter (nakkas) and then rose to the rank of master, excelling in gilding and the Saz style. He eventually mastered the art of portraiture, becoming the most famous practitioner of the age. He also wrote poetry in classical and folk genres.

• Levni
  • Islamic art, §I, 8(iv): Subject-matter: Secular themes
  • Islamic art, §III, 4(ii)(d): Painted book illustration: Subject-matter: Historical writing
  • Islamic art, §III, 4(vi)(e): Painted book illustration, c 1500–c 1900: Ottoman empire
  • Istanbul, §III, 13(iii): Topkapi Palace, 1623–1853