Illuminated sarlawh of the Layla and Majnun (later notes recto; text verso of folio 3), from a manuscript of Layla and Majnun by Jami
ManuscriptsPersian16th century

Illuminated sarlawh of the Layla and Majnun (later notes recto; text verso of folio 3), from a manuscript of Layla and Majnun by Jami

c. 1550-60

Description

The manuscript opens with an illuminated sarlawh and gilded text panel. The text is copied in 13 lines in two columns and the text panels are remounted onto new margins. According to its colophon the manuscript was copied by Muhammad al-Qivam al-Shirazi (1537-1585) who was a famous scribe in Shiraz. Another manuscript in the hand of the same scribe in the Harvard Art Museums is the Shahnama of Firdawsi, with his signature in the colophon page (2002.50.138). The leather binding is gilded and stamped. The inside cover is decorated with animals in a landscape in relief. The interior of the front cover is mistakenly placed upside down during a repair.

Classification
Manuscripts
Medium
Ink, colors, and gold on paper
Culture
Persian
Period
Safavid period
Century
16th century
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Department
Department of Islamic & Later Indian Art

Dimensions

21 x 13 cm (8 1/4 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.

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Illuminated sarlawh of the Layla and Majnun (later notes recto; text verso of folio 3), from a manuscript of Layla and Majnun by Jami | Harvard Art Museums | KenAI