Ayia Sophia Mosque Entrance, Konya, Seljuk Islamic Architectural Print, 1924

Ayia Sophia Mosque Entrance, Konya, Seljuk Islamic Architectural Print, 1924

This original architectural print depicts the entrance portal of the Dar-el-Huffar School, also known as the Ayia Sophia Mosque in Konya, Turkey, rendered from a 13th-century Seljuk monument. Published in Alexandre M. Raymond’s celebrated work *L'Art Islamique en Orient*, the plate documents the refined geometric and epigraphic ornament that characterized medieval Anatolian Islamic architecture.

The composition focuses on a monumental entrance niche framed by intricate interlacing bands, arabesque ornament, and Arabic calligraphy. The restrained palette of soft sage-green, stone-grey, and warm ivory highlights the architectural forms with remarkable clarity while preserving the scholarly nature of the original survey. Raymond, an architect and researcher of Islamic decorative arts, produced these plates to record and preserve some of the most important architectural monuments of the Islamic world during the late Ottoman period.

Konya, the former capital of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum, was one of the great artistic centers of medieval Anatolia. The city is renowned for its madrasas, mosques, caravanserais, and the legacy of Jalal ad-Din Rumi. This plate captures the elegance and precision of Seljuk stone carving, where geometric structure, calligraphic ornament, and architectural harmony merge into a unified decorative program.

The print appeals equally to collectors of Islamic art, Ottoman and Seljuk architecture, Middle Eastern decorative arts, architectural drawings, and historic design sources. Its minimalist architectural presentation and subtle coloration also make it highly suitable for contemporary interiors, where it functions both as a work of art and a sophisticated design reference.

This is an original early 20th-century print, not a reproduction. We sell the print unframed. Any framed images are shown for display and interior inspiration only.

Condition: Good condition for age. Light age toning and scattered foxing as visible, mainly in the margins. Minor wear at the sheet edges. Please study the image carefully.

Framing tips: This print works particularly well in a dark walnut, ebonized, or lightly gilded frame with an ivory museum mat. The soft green-grey tones complement contemporary, Mediterranean, Ottoman-inspired, and traditional interiors alike.

Technique: Color lithograph

Maker: Alexandre M. Raymond, France / Ottoman Empire, early 20th century.