The dome of one of the iwans (aisle) of the prayer hall. Five out of eight windows in its drum let in the light; the three other are not real windows: the slooping roof above the aisle makes that they have no view on the outside.
The (recently refreshed) painted decoration of the dome is called ‘kalem işi’ (= work of the pen/paintbrush), because it is inspired on the geometric or stylised ornamentation used by Ottoman calligraphers to illuminate books. It displays the 19th century late-Ottoman ‘Turkish Baroque’ style, which was influenced by European Neo-Classicism and Neo-Barok. The maqarnas-shaped paintings in the corners are a stylised imitation of those in the southwest corner room, which date from the 18th century.

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Sources: ‘Vakıf Abideler ve eski Eserler’ - Vakıflar Genel Müdürlüğü III, Ankara 1983 .