Folio of Calligraphy

Page of calligraphy; text: Persian and Arabic in white, red, and black ta’liq script set against a blue ground embellished with gold floral motifs; signed by Kamal-al-Din Ikhtiyar al-munshi al-sultani; one of a group of three folios.
Border: The text is set in gold, blue, and black rulings on gold-sprinkled paper.

Maker(s)
Artist: Kamal al-Din Ikhtiyar (died 974 A.H.)
Historical period(s)
Safavid period, ca. 1540-1550
Medium
Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on colored paper
Dimensions
H x W: 24.5 x 16 cm (9 5/8 x 6 5/16 in)
Geography
Afghanistan, Herat
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1929.65
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Manuscript
Type

Manuscript folio

Keywords
Afghanistan, Iran, Safavid period (1501 - 1722), ta'liq script
Provenance

To 1929
Kirkor Minassian, New York to 1929 [1]

From 1929
Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Kirkor Minassian, New York on April 5, 1929 [2]

Notes:

[1] Object file, undated folder sheet note.

[2] See note 1. Also see Freer Gallery of Art Purchase List file, Collections Management Office.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Kirkor Minassian 1874-1944

Description

Page of calligraphy; text: Persian and Arabic in white, red, and black ta'liq script set against a blue ground embellished with gold floral motifs; signed by Kamal-al-Din Ikhtiyar al-munshi al-sultani; one of a group of three folios.
Border: The text is set in gold, blue, and black rulings on gold-sprinkled paper.

Inscription(s)

Written by the poor miserable slave Ikhtiyar, the royal scribe.

Label

This elegant folio is written in a script known as ta`liq or "hanging," notable for its great fluidity, which belies its highly sophisticated and strict rules. The script was particularly favored for copying Persian poetry after the fifteenth century in Iran and India. This example is signed by the celebrated calligrapher Kamal al-din, also known as Vahid al-ayn, or the "one-eyed." A native of Qum in north central Iran, he worked at the court of Shah Tahmasb (reigned 1524-76), the ruler of Safavid Iran and one of the greatest patrons and bibliophiles. The king admired Kamal al-din's style and gave him the title "royal scribe."

Published References
  • Maryam D Ekhtiar. How To Read Islamic Calligraphy. New York. p. 31, fig. 21.
Collection Area(s)
Arts of the Islamic World
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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