Folio of Calligraphy

Detached folio from a dispersed album.An illuminated qita’ (poetic fragment); Persian in black nasta’liq script; signed by Mir Ali. verso (F1939.50a): painting: A portrait of Abd al-Rahim Khan Khanan; side panel texts in Persian black nasta’liq script.
Border: recto (F1939.50b): the calligraphy panel is set in red, gold, and black rulings in an inner frame of calligraphy panels, and a gold floral outer frame, mounted on a paperboard with multicolored flowers and marginal medallions. verso: the painting is set in gold and purple rulings in an inner frame of calligraphic panels and a gold outer frame with floral motifs mounted on a paperboard with gold flowers on a blue ground.

Maker(s)
Calligrapher: Mir Ali Haravi (died ca. 1550)
Historical period(s)
Sheybanid dynasty, Uzbek period, 16th century
Medium
Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Dimensions
H x W (inner calligraphy panel): 18.6 × 8.7 cm (7 5/16 × 3 7/16 in)
Geography
Uzbekistan
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1939.50b
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Manuscript
Type

Manuscript folio

Keywords
illumination, nasta'liq script, Uzbek period (1500 - 1598), Uzbekistan
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Description

Detached folio from a dispersed album.An illuminated qita' (poetic fragment); Persian in black nasta'liq script; signed by Mir Ali. verso (F1939.50a): painting: A portrait of Abd al-Rahim Khan Khanan; side panel texts in Persian black nasta'liq script.
Border: recto (F1939.50b): the calligraphy panel is set in red, gold, and black rulings in an inner frame of calligraphy panels, and a gold floral outer frame, mounted on a paperboard with multicolored flowers and marginal medallions. verso: the painting is set in gold and purple rulings in an inner frame of calligraphic panels and a gold outer frame with floral motifs mounted on a paperboard with gold flowers on a blue ground.

Inscription(s)

Recto: "Poor, lowly Mir Ali."
Verso: "Work by Hashim."

Label

The calligraphic works of Mir Ali of Herat are highly esteemed, and many samples were collected by the Mughal emperors of India and incorporated into imperial albums. This folio is from one of the albums compiled for Shah Jahan (1627-58) and is adorned with superbly rendered illuminations placed between the verses and in the margins. This album was made up of samples of calligraphy mounted on the back of folios containing portraits and studies of animals.

Published References
  • M.A. Alvi, A. Rahman. Jahangir: The Naturalist. New Delhi. pl. 18.
  • The Emperor's Album: Images of Mughal India. Exh. cat. New York. pp. 40, 52, 68, 72, 116-118, pl. 19.
  • Priscilla P. Soucek. Persian Artists in Mughal India: Influence and Transformations. vol. 4 Leiden. no. 16, 167, p. 180.
  • Milo Cleveland Beach. The Imperial Image: Paintings for the Mughal Court. Exh. cat. Washington, 1981. cat. 18a, p. 183.
Collection Area(s)
Arts of the Islamic World
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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