ManuscriptsPersian18th century

Folio with an illuminated sarlawh; table of contents (table of contents recto; sarlawh verso of folio 1), from a manuscript of Prayers

dated 1713

Description

The thin and small manuscript of 34 folios opens with a beautiful illuminated sarlawh. The original Arabic text is copied in naskh in black ink, with interlinear translation into Persian in small red thulth on floral gold drawings. According to the colophon it was copied by Ahmad al-Nayrizi in 1125 H (1713) in Isfahan. Ahmad b. Shams al-Din Muhammad Nayrizi (or Neyrizi) (fl. 1096-1152) was one of the greatest calligraphers of the late Safavid period, and the master of naskh and thulth. He canonized a distinct form of naskh script, known as Persian Naskh. Originally from Nayriz of Fars, he moved to Isfahan at the summon of the last Safavid ruler, Sultan Husayn where he resided from 1100 to 1134. The binding is covered with a blue cloth on the outside and plain paper on the inside.

Classification

Manuscripts

Medium

Ink, colors, and gold on paper

Culture

Persian

Period

Safavid period

Century

18th century

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Islamic & Later Indian Art

Dimensions

20 x 13 cm (7 7/8 x 5 1/8 in.)

Provenance

Ezzat-Malek Soudavar, Geneva, Switzerland (by 2014), by descent; to her son Abolala Soudavar, Houston, Texas (2014), loan; to Harvard Art Museums, 2015. 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.