Constellations (painting, recto and verso), folio from a manuscript of the Aja'ib al-Makhluqat by Qazwini

ManuscriptsYemeni17th century

Constellations (painting, recto and verso), folio from a manuscript of the Aja'ib al-Makhluqat by Qazwini

c. 1640

Description

This folio represents the Constellation of the Eagle, in the form of a blue fleur-de-lys; Constellation of the bird, also called the Chicken (probably Ornis, Cygnus, the Swan); Constellation of the Chicken-Bird; Constellation of Women with the seat; Constellation of Cassiopea, represented as a woman seated on a chair with her legs dangling; Constellation of Perseus, or the Bearer of the Demon's Head. This folio is from 'Part One' of the manuscript on heavenly things, the chapter on the characteristics of the constellations of the northern sphere. This page probably comes from a manuscript with a colophon stating that it was written in South Arabia, Yemen, in 1640.

Classification

Manuscripts

Medium

Ink, opaque watercolor and silver on paper

Culture

Yemeni

Century

17th century

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Islamic & Later Indian Art

Dimensions

29.8 x 21.1 cm (11 3/4 x 8 5/16 in.)

Provenance

John Goelet III, New York, (by 1960), gift; to The Fogg Museum of Art.

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Constellations (painting, recto and verso), folio from a manuscript of the Aja'ib al-Makhluqat by Qazwini | Harvard Art Museums | KenAI