This article is within the scope of WikiProject Biography, a collaborative effort to create, develop and organize Wikipedia's articles about people. All interested editors are invited to join the project and contribute to the discussion. For instructions on how to use this banner, please refer to the documentation.BiographyWikipedia:WikiProject BiographyTemplate:WikiProject Biographybiography articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Turkey, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Turkey and related topics on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.TurkeyWikipedia:WikiProject TurkeyTemplate:WikiProject TurkeyTurkey articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Greece, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Greek history on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.GreeceWikipedia:WikiProject GreeceTemplate:WikiProject GreeceGreek articles
Mehmed II is part of the WikiProject Bosnia and Herzegovina, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of articles related to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the project and see a list of open tasks.Bosnia and HerzegovinaWikipedia:WikiProject Bosnia and HerzegovinaTemplate:WikiProject Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina articles
Mehmed II is part of the WikiProject Albania, an attempt to co-ordinate articles relating to Albania on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, you can edit the article attached to this page, or visit the project page, where you can join the project and/or contribute to the discussion. If you are new to editing Wikipedia visit the welcome page so as to become familiar with the guidelines. If you would like to participate, please join the project and help with our open tasks.AlbaniaWikipedia:WikiProject AlbaniaTemplate:WikiProject AlbaniaAlbania articles
Mehmed II is part of WikiProject Kosovo, an attempt to co-ordinate articles relating to Kosovo on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, you can edit the article attached to this page, or visit the project page, where you can join the project and/or contribute to the discussion. If you are new to editing Wikipedia visit the welcome page so as to become familiar with the guidelines. If you would like to participate, please join the project and help with our open tasks.KosovoWikipedia:WikiProject KosovoTemplate:WikiProject KosovoKosovo articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Romania, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Romania-related topics on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.RomaniaWikipedia:WikiProject RomaniaTemplate:WikiProject RomaniaRomania articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Serbia, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Serbia on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.SerbiaWikipedia:WikiProject SerbiaTemplate:WikiProject SerbiaSerbia articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Ukraine, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Ukraine on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.UkraineWikipedia:WikiProject UkraineTemplate:WikiProject UkraineUkraine articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject North Macedonia, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of North Macedonia on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.North MacedoniaWikipedia:WikiProject North MacedoniaTemplate:WikiProject North MacedoniaNorth Macedonia articles
This article is within the scope of the Military history WikiProject. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the project and see a list of open tasks. To use this banner, please see the full instructions.Military historyWikipedia:WikiProject Military historyTemplate:WikiProject Military historymilitary history articles
This article has been checked against the following criteria for B-class status:
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Middle Ages, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of the Middle Ages on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.Middle AgesWikipedia:WikiProject Middle AgesTemplate:WikiProject Middle AgesMiddle Ages articles
This article is of interest to WikiProject LGBTQ+ studies, which tries to ensure comprehensive and factual coverage of all LGBTQ-related issues on Wikipedia. For more information, or to get involved, please visit the project page or contribute to the discussion.LGBTQ+ studiesWikipedia:WikiProject LGBTQ+ studiesTemplate:WikiProject LGBTQ+ studiesLGBTQ+ studies articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Poetry, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of poetry on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.PoetryWikipedia:WikiProject PoetryTemplate:WikiProject PoetryPoetry articles
Mehmed II had been exposed to European art and history from an early age, leading to his subsequent patronage of European artists later in life. As a boy, the young Sultan kept a sketchbook, in which he made a number of drawings in European style.[1]
His acquisition of Constantinople brought the growing empire into heavy, direct exposure to the Byzantine culture and legacy of trade and statecraft in the Mediterranean and presented him with an opportunity to indulge in his artistic interests.[1] The Sultan’s first recorded commission of an Italian artist occurred in 1461, when he requested an artist to paint and sculpt from the Lord of Rimini, Sigismondo Malatesta.[1]
More famous is his commission of Venetian artist Gentile Bellini to create a set of medals, and later a portrait in his likeness. Although not known as a medalist, Bellini also created a number of medals depicting the Sultan. One of the medallions designed by Bellini offers a profile of Mehmed on the front, ringed with the text “MAGNI SOULTANI MOHAMETI IMPERATORIS,” Of Great Sultan Mehmed, Emperor.[2] On the reverse are three crowns in a stack, as well as the artist’s signature. Both the medals and the portrait created by Bellini would have communicated suitable titles for Mehmed II to a European audience; historian Antonia Cevizli mentions that it was likely that a Bellini medal was given to Lorenzo de’ Medici by the Ottoman envoy to Florence, and that the triple crown motif alluded to similar designs utilized by European powers, in this case representing Greece, Trebizond, and Asia, the three realms under Ottoman control.[2] Cevizli also makes reference to the Venetian style of the Bellini portrait, aligning Mehmed II with previous doges and thereby providing a reference point for the Sultan in the minds of its viewers.[2] The three crown motif is also present in this portrait.
Historian Julian Raby notes that in addition to these commissions, two sources suggest that the Sultan had also asked Bellini to produce erotica and an image of a Virgin and Child, which would supplement his existing collection of Christian relics and cultural artifacts.[1] The influence of European art and culture was greatest in the Sultan’s private life, where he had the most contact with Byzantium and Europe; a different world from his public patronage of art and architecture, which took form in the mosques and fortresses of Istanbul.[1]