er in the school garden. And teachers check the school uniforms. Some students escape from the
checking. Here are some examples from Turkish art:
TURTLE PEDAGOGUE
Turtle Pedagogue is one of the most valuable paintings that was painted so far. Turtle Pedagogue
was made in two versions in 1906 and 1907 by Osman Hamdi Bey. The two versions of Turtle
Pedagogue have differences: for example in the first version there are five turtles but in the second
version there are six turtles or in the first version there isn’t a vase but in the second version there is
a vase by the window.
Let’s examine the painting. The place where the Turtle Pedagogue stands is Green Mosque. Green
Mosque is one of the most valuable examples of Ottoman Architecture that was constructed in
1390. In this painting we see the tiles anal calligraphies of the Mosque. The bearded man that has
real inlaid clothing in this painting holds a traditional instrument called “ney” behind his back. He
bends a little this action gives him a tired and mature look. On figures back there is a kind of drum
called “ nakkare” or “kudüm” .
There are a lot of ideas of where could Osman Hamdi Bey get his inspiration from. Some say the
inspiration come from the turtles that walks around with candles on their back from Tulip
Revolution. Some say the turtles were representations of Osman Hamdi Bey’s colleagues. And
some says the turtles represent the change of resistant people.
43