Composite page of calligraphy

Detached album folio; Page of calligraphies; text: Persian in black nasta’liq script; four calligraphic panels: three couplets from Bustan of Sa’di by Shah Mahmud in the upper right-hand corner; two couplets from the Divan of Amir Shahi by Ahmad al-Husayni al-Mashhadi at the bottom of the page dated A.H. 978 [A.D. 1570]; several couplets by Shaykh Muhammad ibn Shaykh Kamal Sabzavari in the upper left-hand corner.
Border: The text panels are set in gold, red and blue rulings mounted on marbled gold-sprinkled paperboard.

Maker(s)
Calligrapher: Ahmad al-Husayni al-Mashhadi Shah Mahmud Shaykh Muhammad ibn Shaykh Kamal Sabzavari
Historical period(s)
Safavid period, 16th century; lower panel calligraphy: 1570 (978 A.H.)
Medium
Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 47.3 x 32.2 cm (18 5/8 x 12 11/16 in)
Geography
Iran
Credit Line
Purchase — Smithsonian Unrestricted Trust Funds, Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program, and Dr. Arthur M. Sackler
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Collection
Accession Number
S1986.348
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Album, Calligraphy
Type

Detached album folio

Keywords
Henri Vever collection, Iran, nasta'liq script, Safavid period (1501 - 1722)
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Description

Detached album folio; Page of calligraphies; text: Persian in black nasta'liq script; four calligraphic panels: three couplets from Bustan of Sa'di by Shah Mahmud in the upper right-hand corner; two couplets from the Divan of Amir Shahi by Ahmad al-Husayni al-Mashhadi at the bottom of the page dated A.H. 978 [A.D. 1570]; several couplets by Shaykh Muhammad ibn Shaykh Kamal Sabzavari in the upper left-hand corner.
Border: The text panels are set in gold, red and blue rulings mounted on marbled gold-sprinkled paperboard.

Inscription(s)

Upper right-hand corner: “written by the poor slave Shah Mahmud."
Bottom page, "the sinful slave Ahmad al-Husayni al-Mashhadi, God forgive his sins, in the year of [A.H.] 978 [A.D. 1570]."
Upper left-hand corner: "written by Shaykh Muhammad ibn Shaykh Kamal Sabzavari."

Published References
  • Hunt for Paradise: Court Arts of Safavid Iran, 1501-1576. Exh. cat. Milan. p. 62, fig. 3.16.
  • Glenn D. Lowry, Milo Cleveland Beach, Elisabeth West FitzHugh, Susan Nemanzee, Janet Snyder. An Annotated and Illustrated Checklist of the Vever Collection. Washington and Seattle. cat. p. 435, p. 354.
Collection Area(s)
Arts of the Islamic World
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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