Calligraph. (B. November
28, 1861, Findiklı/ Istanbul- D. July
23, 1941, Fatih/ Istanbul). His full name is Ahmed Kamil Akdik and he was also
known as Haci Kamil Efendi. He was the
son of head clerk of food at Shipyard Suleyman Efendi and father of painter
Seref Akdik. During his primary school education at Zeyrek Saliha Sultan
School; he was interested in calligraphy with the impact of his teacher Süleyman
Efendi. After completing Fatih
Secondary School, he became a public servant in Interior Affairs Ministry
(1880). He learned a third
script from Sami Efendi and received his approval (1884). He changed his pseudonym
Kamil to Haşim with the request of his teacher. We see the signature Ahmed Haşim in his writings
between 1887-1890. After a while, he started to use Kamil pseudonym again and known
with this name. He was appointed
at Palace Registry because of his abilities and success in writing (1894). He learned divani scripts and
preparing Sultan's signature from Sami Efendi and became the namenuvis next
year. When his teacher was
retired, he became the script teacher at Nisan-i Humayun Office (1909). In addition to this duty, he continued teaching a
third script in Medresetül Hattat in 1914 and rik'a courses at Galatasaray High
School (1918).
When
Prime Ministry was ended, he was forced to resign from his duty at Palace
(1922). He continued teaching at Calligraphy School until the
Alphabet Reform (1928). When it was allowed to teach fine calligraphy at Fine Arts
Academy, he worked as a script teacher there until his death. He was invited to
Egypt twice by Egyptian prince Mehmed Ali Tevfik Pasha (1935 and 1940). He
prepared the belt and dome scripts of the mosque Pasha made built in Cairo. He has written numerous Qur'an, Qur'an chapters,
plates and books during his life. He has donated his private calligraphy collection
to Topkapi Palace Museum. On
August 21, 1915; he received "Reisul Hattatin" title which is given
to prominent calligraphs due to his seniority.
REFERENCE: Melek Celâl / Reîsü'l-hattâtîn Kâmil Akdik (1938),
Türkiye Ansiklopedisi (v. 1, p. 86, 1974), M. Uğur Derman / Türk Hat Sanatının Şaheserleri (p. 49,
1982), Şevket Rado / Türk Hattatları (1984), Büyük Larousse (v.1 s. 259, 1986),
Ana Britannica (v. 1, p. 261-262, 1987), M. Uğur Derman / TDV İslam
Ansiklopedisi (v. 2, p. 234-235, 1989), Ali Alparslan / Ünlü Türk Hattatları (1992), Muhittin Serin /
Hat Sanatı ve Meşhur Hattatlar (2005).
