How does this artwork elucidate its Description?
The painting depicts an elderly man in traditional Ottoman religious costume: a long red garment with embroidered hem, belted at the waist, and a Turkish turban.  The figure may be a self-portrait of Hamdi himself.  The anachronistic costume predates the introduction of the fez and the spread of Western style dress with the Tanzimat reforms in the mid-19th century.  He holds a traditional ney flute and bears a nakkare drum on his back, with a drumstick hanging to his front.  The man's costume and instruments suggests he may be a Dervish.The scene is set in a dilapidated upper room at the Green Mosque, Bursa, where the man is attempting to "train" the five tortoises at his feet, but they are ignoring him preferring instead to eat the green leaves on the floor. Above a pointed window is the inscription: Şifa'al-kulûp lika'al Mahbub ("The healing of the hearts is meeting with the beloved").
nakkare ney fez Tanzimat tortoise Dervish Green Mosque, Bursa Turkish turban Western style dress