The former Hibs midfield player contributed a superb hat-trick to kill off an under-strength Hibs team which ended up with nine men.
Edgaras Jankauskas was also on the scoresheet on a day Hibs fans will want to forget.
Ivan Sproule was sent off for with 13 minutes left after stamping on the back of Hearts substitute Saulius Mikoliunas and Gary Smith followed him three minutes from time for denying Michal Pospisil a goalscoring opportunity.
Hibs had their problems before kick-off with Michael Stewart, Scott Brown and Chris Killen all failing fitness tests, forcing Tony Mowbray to hand a debut recent signing Abdessalam Benjelloun.
It left Hibs light up front and Hearts took control early on, and Zibi Malkowski had to get down quickly to save from Jankauskas.
Hibs' first threat came when Craig Gordon had to palm a Steven Whittaker shot over his crossbar.
Whittaker, playing in a more advanced role, had several attempts from distance in the first half but most were wayward.
Gary Caldwell missed a great chance when he headed a Kevin Thomson free-kick high and wide and then Thomson set up Ivan Sproule, but he could get no power in his effort and Gordon saved comfortably.
Hearts took the lead after 27 minutes when Benjelloun lost possession in midfield and Rudi Skacel fed Hartley who slid the ball wide to Jankauskas, who returned the compliment for Hartley to beat Malkowski with a deft touch.
Jambos skipper Steven Pressley suffered a head knock at the end of the first half and remained in the dressing-room at half-time, with Takis Fyssas replacing him.
Malkowski produced the save of the match to turn a deflected free-kick from Hartley past his post as Hearts went for the killer second.
It came predictably from the boot of Hartley when he caught Malkowski napping at his near post and he curled in a free-kick.
Hibs tried to respond and Gordon saved well from Whittaker, but their hopes were gone with Sproule's red card and Jankauskas rubbed salt into the wound with a third goal after a mistake by Malkowski.
Smith followed him up the tunnel after pulling back Pospisil in the penalty area and Hartley drilled home the resultant penalty to complete his hat-trick.