Hand-Drawn Decorations in the Restoration of Kadıköy Hasan Paşa Mosque

Abstract

Hasan Pasha Mosque, which was built in Kadıköy in 1317 H. / 1899-1900 by Hasan
Hüsnü Pasha, who served as the Minister of the Navy between 1881-1903, is the central
structure of a small-scale complex consisting of a primary school, a fountain and a shop
Its minaret has an significant place among the late Ottoman minarets. The acanthus leaf
arrangement under the balconies is reminiscent of the ancient Corinthian column capitals.
The hand-drawn decorations of the mosque, which was built in the empirical style,
consisted of motifs embroidered on plaster on the upper parts of the harim body walls
and on canvas in the upper cover system. In the last restoration works, compositions considered
to be original hand-drawn decorations of the mosque were unearthed. The original
hand-drawn decorations of the mosque were found thanks to the successful scraping
works. Interventions were made in 1961 to renovate the minarets of the mosque, and in
1993, to expand the space in the harim and the last congregation unit. It is quite likely that
the original hand-drawn decorations were covered during the periods when these interventions
were made. In the compositions unearthed, rumis, palmettes and curved branch
motifs, stars and geometric decorations embroidered in the printing technique with the
help of molds reflect the Orientalist and National Architecture styles, while the curtain
motif unearthed in the mihrab niche reminds the Baroque and Empiric styles. This mixed
use shows that the Eclectic (mixed) style is generally effective in the building.
In this study, the hand-drawn decorations of Hasan Pasha Mosque were evaluated in
terms of motif, style and color and dominant style.