ManuscriptsPersian16th century

The Prophet Muhammad’s Ascent to Heaven (painting, verso; text, recto), folio from a manuscript of the Khamsa (Layla and Majnun) by Nizami

1584

Description

The story of the miraculous night journey of the Prophet Muhammad is based on passages from the Qur'an (17:1, 53:1–18, and 81:19–25), as well as later hadith that describe his travel (isra' ) from “the holy mosque” to “the farthest mosque” as well as his ascent to heaven (mi'raj) and what he experienced there. Paintings of this wondrous event sometimes appear in illustrated manuscripts of Persian epic and romantic poetry, such as the Khamsa of Nizami. Even though they are not directly related to the stories told in these works, Mi'raj chapters appear at the beginning of Makhsan al Asrar and Layla and Majnun, as seen in this manuscript folio. In this illustration, the Prophet is shown in mid-journey, riding his human-headed steed, Buraq. Rainbow-winged angels hover around him and proffer golden vessels. Among them is archangel Gabriel: holding a banner of green, the color associated with the Prophet, he leads Muhammad on his mystical journey. Although earlier depictions of the Prophet reveal his face, here he is shown veiled, in accord with iconography adopted at the beginning of the Safavid period, in the early 1500s.

Classification

Manuscripts

Medium

Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

Culture

Persian

Period

Safavid period

Century

16th century

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Islamic & Later Indian Art

Dimensions

40.2 x 26.5 cm (15 13/16 x 10 7/16 in.) framed: 57.5 x 43.5 x 2.9 cm (22 5/8 x 17 1/8 x 1 1/8 in.)

Provenance

[Christies, London, 18 October 1994, lot 26]. [Mansour Gallery, London, by 1994 or 1995], sold; to Stanford and Norma Jean Calderwood, Belmont, MA (1994 or 1995 - 2002), gift; to Harvard Art Museums, 2002.