AlbumsOttoman18th-19th century

One of three pages from an album of calligraphy

18th-19th century

Description

This is one of three pages from an album of calligraphy written in naskh and thuluth scripts in horizontal format. The other sides of the original folios were most likely removed to be sold separately. Calligraphic works written in horizontal format with a combination of two (large and small) scripts on the same page, possibly to be included in albums, were typical for Ottoman calligraphers, especially after Hafiz Osman in the 17th century. It became a standard for Ottoman calligraphers to write kit’as (rectangular calligraphic work generally using two scripts) and receive icazet (certificate of competence and permission to teach calligraphy to others) from their masters directly on that page. We do not know the name of the scribe who created this or the other two pages. The texts are various examples of Arabic hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad). On this folio short sections from three different hadith are selected. I. Hadith 6984 from Sahih Muslim‘s Book 49 (They (the Companions of the Holy Prophet) said: Allah's Messenger, who are Mufarradun? He said: They are those males and females who remember Allah much) II. Hadith 6482 of Sahih Bukhari’s Book 80 (The example of the one who celebrates the Praises of his Lord (Allah) in comparison to the one who does not celebrate the Praises of his Lord, is that of a living creature compared to a dead one.) III. Hadith 7494 of Sahih al-Bukhari’s Book 98 (I am just as My slave thinks I am, (i.e. I am able to do for him what he thinks I can do for him) and I am with him if He remembers Me. The frames on either side of the smaller script were usually reserved for illumination. Here no illumination is applied and the emphasis has been just on the calligraphy itself. There is a thin strip of tan colored paper decorated with blue leaf patterns serving as a frame around the calligraphy. Also a larger band made of strips of blue paper is used as the outer frame. A catchword can be seen on the upper left corner of the page.

Classification

Albums

Medium

Ink and gold on paper

Culture

Ottoman

Period

Ottoman period

Century

18th-19th century

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Islamic & Later Indian Art

Dimensions

24.8 x 15.2 cm (9 3/4 x 6 in.)

Provenance

[Sotheby Parke Bernet Inc., New York, 15 June 1979, lot 170], sold; to Edwin Binney, 3rd, California (1979-1986), bequest; to the Harvard Art Museums, 2012. NOTE: Stored at the San Diego Museum of Art from some time before 1986 until 1991, then at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art from 1991-2011.

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