Born in Usak, Turkey, Devrim Erbil was a painter and art educator, who in his early work, was much influenced by the great beauty of the city of Istanbul, both natural and man-made. A major influence was the work of Matrakci Nasuh, originally from Bosnia, and one of the most significant figures of 16th century Turkey.

Matrakci Nasuh's most celebrated work was Beyan-i Menazil, a book of plans and descriptions, with 107 full page miniatures, illustrating the towns and cities on the army's eastward march on a campaign against Safavid Iran in 1533-36. Castles, mosques, khans, colleges and pavilions are shown in painstaking detail, together with their surrounding terrain. Although the miniatures are illustr...