Decorated Ceiling Of The Rustem Pasha Islamic Cultural Centre Istanbul Turkey Royalty-Free Stock Photography

The Rüstem Pasha Islamic cultural center was designed by Ottoman imperial architect Mimar Sinan for the grand vizier Rüstem Pasha (the husband of one of the daughters of Suleiman the Magnificent by Hurrem Sultan Mihrimah Sultan). Rüstem Pasha died at age 61 in July 1561 and the mosque was built after his death from around 1561 until 1563.[1] The mosque complex now hosts a religious school. The Rüstem Pasha Mosque is famous for its large quantities of İznik tiles set in a very wide variety of floral and geometric designs which cover not only the façade of the porch but also the mihrab minbar and walls. There are around 80 different patterns.[4] These tiles exhibit the early use of Armenian bole a tomato-red pigment that would become characteristic of İznik pottery. The bright emerald green colour is only used in a panel added above an exterior doorway at a later date