ManuscriptsPersian19th century

Illustrated Manuscript of poetry by Maktabi Shirazi, Vahshi Bafqi, and Naw’i Khabushani

1838

Description

Bound between fine lacquer covers, this anthology contains three tragic love poems: Layli va Majnun by Maktabi Shirazi (d. circa 1510); Farhad va Shirin by Vahshi Bafqi (d. 1583); and Suz va Gudaz (Burning and Melting) by Naw`i Khabushani (d. circa 1610). A colophon following Maktabi’s poem gives the date and place of completion as 22 Shawwal 1254 (January 8, 1838) in Fars. The patron's name is given as Muhammad Hasan Khan, son of the Qajar ruler Fath `Ali Shah. The small manuscript opens with double illuminated text pages which are copied in shikasta nasta`liq in two columns and 15 lines to a page. There are a total of 42 paintings illustrating the texts. The outer covers of the binding feature two scenes from the story of Khusraw and Shirin: on the front Shirin visits Farhad at Mount Bisutun; and on the back Khusraw spies on the bathing Shirin. The inner covers bear monumental standing figures of an elderly (front) and a youthful (back) dervish. Each carries a begging bowl filled with flowers and hefts an axe on his shoulder. These figures reflect wall paintings in the Haft Tan mausoleum in Shiraz.

Classification

Manuscripts

Medium

Cover: watercolor, gold-colored pigments, and lacquer on pasteboard Paintings: ink, watercolor, and gold on off-white laid paper Text: Ink, gold, and colors on paper

Culture

Persian

Period

Qajar period

Century

19th century

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Islamic & Later Indian Art

Dimensions

16.4 × 9.7 × 2.7 cm (6 7/16 × 3 13/16 × 1 1/16 in.)

Provenance

Ezzat-Malek Soudavar, Geneva, Switzerland (by 2014), by descent; to her son Abolala Soudavar, Houston, Texas (2014), gift; to Harvard Art Museums, 2014. Note: Ezzat-Malek Soudavar (1913-2014) formed this collection over a period of sixty years. She purchased the works of art on the international art market.