Bağdad Köşkü (Baghdad Kiosk), in the north corner of the palace.
Built in 1639. It was ordered by Murat IV to celebrate the reconquest of Baghdad.
Architect: Hasan Ağa, although Koca Kasim Ağa was royal architect at the time.

On the picture: The interior dome. Its painting, restored to its original design, is an example of very elaborated ‘kalem işi’ (= work of the pen/paintbrush), which is inspired on the geometric or stylised ornamentations used by Ottoman calligraphers to illuminate books.

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Source: ‘Istanbul, Topkapı paleis’ (Atrium cultuurgidsen)