Text folio (text recto; text verso of folio 7) from a manuscript of Yusuf and Zulaykha by Nizami

ManuscriptsPersian16th century

Text folio (text recto; text verso of folio 7) from a manuscript of Yusuf and Zulaykha by Nizami

16th century

Description

The manuscript opens with an illuminated sarlawh (heading) above the text. The margins of the double-page frontispiece are decorated with gold floral drawings and large illuminated cartouches. The text is copied in nastaʿliq in two columns and 15 lines on gold sprinkled paper. The text panels are remargined on various colored papers. There are ten paintings in the manuscript. The dark and reddish-brown leather binding is decorated with a gilt-stamped inlays in the center medallion, pendants, corner pieces and cartouches of the border. The edges have been repaired at some point. The inside covers are plain olive green leather.

Classification

Manuscripts

Medium

Ink, colors, and gold on paper

Culture

Persian

Period

Shaybanid period

Century

16th century

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Islamic & Later Indian Art

Dimensions

27.5 x 17 cm (10 13/16 x 6 11/16 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.

Related Artworks

Folio with notes in later hands; illuminated sarlawh and decorated margins (notes recto; sarlawh verso of folio 1) frontispiece from a manuscript of Yusuf and Zulaykha by Nizami

Folio with notes in later hands; illuminated sarlawh and decorated margins (notes recto; sarlawh verso of folio 1) frontispiece from a manuscript of Yusuf and Zulaykha by Nizami

Unknown Artist, 16th century

Ink, colors, and gold on paper

16th centuryPersian

Illuminated frontispiece, left-hand side of a bifolio from a manuscript of the Khulasa al-Akhbar

Illuminated frontispiece, left-hand side of a bifolio from a manuscript of the Khulasa al-Akhbar

Unknown Artist, 16th century

Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

16th centuryPersian

Illuminated text (recto), text (verso), folio from a manuscript of Persian poetry, left-hand side of a separated bifolio

Illuminated text (recto), text (verso), folio from a manuscript of Persian poetry, left-hand side of a separated bifolio

Unknown Artist, 16th century

Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

16th centuryPersian

Owner's Stamp and Note (recto), Illuminated Frontispiece (verso), folio 3 from a Divan of Hafiz

Owner's Stamp and Note (recto), Illuminated Frontispiece (verso), folio 3 from a Divan of Hafiz

Unknown Artist, c. 1540-1550

Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

16th centuryPersian

Folio 4 from Section (Juz') IX of a Manuscript of the Qur'an: Frontispiece, Sura 7: 89 (recto), Sura 7: 89-93 (verso)

Folio 4 from Section (Juz') IX of a Manuscript of the Qur'an: Frontispiece, Sura 7: 89 (recto), Sura 7: 89-93 (verso)

Unknown Artist, 16th century

Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

16th centuryPersian

Manuscript of the Forty Hadiths by Jami

Manuscript of the Forty Hadiths by Jami

Sultan Ahmad Haravi, 1552

Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

16th centuryPersian

Story of Bizhan and Manizha (text, recto and verso), folio from a manuscript of the Shahnama by Firdawsi

Story of Bizhan and Manizha (text, recto and verso), folio from a manuscript of the Shahnama by Firdawsi

Unknown Artist, 16th century

Ink and gold on paper

16th centuryPersian

Hunting Scene (painting, verso), Text (recto), folio 52 from a Manuscript of Humay va Humayun by Khwaju Kirmani

Hunting Scene (painting, verso), Text (recto), folio 52 from a Manuscript of Humay va Humayun by Khwaju Kirmani

Unknown Artist, c. 1530

Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

16th centuryPersian

Introduction to the Shahnama (illuminated text, recto; text, verso), folio from a manuscript of the Shahnama by Firdawsi

Introduction to the Shahnama (illuminated text, recto; text, verso), folio from a manuscript of the Shahnama by Firdawsi

Unknown Artist, 1562

Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

16th centuryPersian

Selection (Sixteen Folios) from the Bustan (Orchard) by Sa`di

Selection (Sixteen Folios) from the Bustan (Orchard) by Sa`di

Unknown Artist, May 1502

Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

16th centuryPersian

Text folio (text recto; text verso of folio 339), from a manuscript of the Kulliyat of Sa‘di

Text folio (text recto; text verso of folio 339), from a manuscript of the Kulliyat of Sa‘di

Unknown Artist, 16th century

Ink, colors, and gold on paper

16th centuryPersian

Text (recto and verso), folio from a manuscript of the Iskandar Nama of Nizami

Text (recto and verso), folio from a manuscript of the Iskandar Nama of Nizami

Unknown Artist, 16th-17th century

Ink and gold on paper

16th-17th centuryPersian

Text folio (text recto; text verso of folio 7) from a manuscript of Yusuf and Zulaykha by Nizami | Harvard Art Museums | KenAI