inscrutable yet distinguishable things that were probably included in many

pictures； shadows of jinns and the Devil and also； the picture of the man’s

stunningly　beautiful　daughter　as　she　stood　beside　her　father。

“What was the narrative that this representation was meant to embellish

and　plete？　As　I　regarded　the　work；　I　slowly　sensed　that　the　underlying　tale

was　the　picture　itself。　The　painting　wasn’t　the　extension　of　a　story　at　all；　it　was

something　in　its　own　right。

“I never forgot the painting that bewildered me so。 I left the palazzo；

returned　to　the　house　where　I　was　staying　as　a　guest　and　pondered　the　picture

the　entire　night。　I；　too；　wanted　to　be　portrayed　in　this　manner。　But；　no；　that

wasn’t　appropriate；　it　was　Our　Sultan　who　ought　to　be　thus　portrayed！　Our

Sultan　ought　to　be　rendered　along　with　everything　He　owned；　with　the　things

that represented and constituted His realm。 I settled on the notion that a

manuscript　could　be　illustrated　according　to　this　idea。

“The Veian virtuoso had made the nobleman’s picture in such a way

that　you　would　immediately　know　which　particular　nobleman　it　was。　If　you’d

never　seen　that　man；　if　they　told　you　to　pick　him　out　of　a　crowd　of　a　thousand

others；　you’d　be　able　to　select　the　correct　man　with　the　help　of　that　portrait。

The Veian masters had discovered painting techniques with which they

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could　distinguish　any　one　man　from　another—without　relying　on　his　outfit　or

medals； just by the distinctive shape of his face。 This was the essence of

”portraiture。“

“If　your　face　were　depict