Text folio (text recto; text verso of folio 3), from a manuscript of Prayers

ManuscriptsPersian18th century

Text folio (text recto; text verso of folio 3), 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.

Related Artworks

Ghazals (recto and verso), Beauty of the Beloved (painting, verso), folio 120 from a Manuscript of the Divan of Hafiz with Two 19th-Century Miniatures Added

Ghazals (recto and verso), Beauty of the Beloved (painting, verso), folio 120 from a Manuscript of the Divan of Hafiz with Two 19th-Century Miniatures Added

Unknown Artist, c. 1774

Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

18th and 19th centuriesPersian

Folio 264 from a Qur'an: Last Three Suras and Colophon (recto), Custom's Stamp (verso)

Folio 264 from a Qur'an: Last Three Suras and Colophon (recto), Custom's Stamp (verso)

Unknown Artist, c. 1727

Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

18th centuryPersian

Folio 2 from a Qur'an: Frontispiece, Sura 2: 1-4 (recto), Sura 2: 5-19 (verso)

Folio 2 from a Qur'an: Frontispiece, Sura 2: 1-4 (recto), Sura 2: 5-19 (verso)

Unknown Artist, c. 1727

Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

18th centuryPersian

End Remarks to Qasa`id (recto), Beginning of Ghazals (verso) folio 14 from a Manuscript of the Divan of Hafiz with Two 19th-Century Miniatures Added

End Remarks to Qasa`id (recto), Beginning of Ghazals (verso) folio 14 from a Manuscript of the Divan of Hafiz with Two 19th-Century Miniatures Added

Unknown Artist, c. 1774

Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

18th and 19th centuriesPersian

Manuscript of the Qur’an, with leather binding

Manuscript of the Qur’an, with leather binding

Unknown Artist, 1774

Gilded leather (binding) and ink, gold, and colors on paper (text)

18th centuryPersian

Notes (recto), Frontispiece, Prose Introduction (verso), folio 1 from a Manuscript of the Divan of Hafiz with Two 19th-Century Miniatures Added

Notes (recto), Frontispiece, Prose Introduction (verso), folio 1 from a Manuscript of the Divan of Hafiz with Two 19th-Century Miniatures Added

Unknown Artist, c. 1774

Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

18th and 19th centuriesPersian

Text folio (text recto; text verso of folio 22), from a manuscript of Prayers

Text folio (text recto; text verso of folio 22), from a manuscript of Prayers

Unknown Artist, dated 1713

Ink, colors, and gold on paper

18th centuryPersian

Text folio (text recto; text verso of folio 20), from a manuscript of Prayers

Text folio (text recto; text verso of folio 20), from a manuscript of Prayers

Unknown Artist, dated 1713

Ink, colors, and gold on paper

18th centuryPersian

Text folio (text recto; text verso of folio 33), from a manuscript of Prayers

Text folio (text recto; text verso of folio 33), from a manuscript of Prayers

Unknown Artist, dated 1713

Ink, colors, and gold on paper

18th centuryPersian

Names of God, folio from a manuscript

Names of God, folio from a manuscript

Unknown Artist, 18th-19th century

Ink and gold on paper

18th-19th centuryPersian

End of Prose Introduction (recto and verso), folio 5 from a Manuscript of the Divan of Hafiz with Two 19th-Century Miniatures Added

End of Prose Introduction (recto and verso), folio 5 from a Manuscript of the Divan of Hafiz with Two 19th-Century Miniatures Added

Unknown Artist, c. 1774

Ink on paper

18th and 19th centuriesPersian

Frontispiece (recto), Prose Introduction (recto and verso), folio 2 from a Manuscript of the Divan of Hafiz with Two 19th-Century Miniatures Added

Frontispiece (recto), Prose Introduction (recto and verso), folio 2 from a Manuscript of the Divan of Hafiz with Two 19th-Century Miniatures Added

Unknown Artist, c. 1774

Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

18th and 19th centuriesPersian

Text folio (text recto; text verso of folio 3), from a manuscript of Prayers | Harvard Art Museums | KenAI