Tools Services Portfolio About Contact

Tools Services Portfolio About Contact

Made with by Lê Trực 0983470827 © 2025 KenAI.vn

Illuminated folio from an unidentified manuscript | Harvard Art Museums | KenAI

Harvard Art Museums
Artworks
Illuminated folio from an unidentified manuscript

Illuminated folio from an unidentified manuscript

ManuscriptsPersian16th century

Illuminated folio from an unidentified manuscript

16th century

Description

This page features a shamsa (sun), an illuminated medallion in which the title of a book or chapter was often inscribed. This shamsa is composed of abstract and floral forms in gold and blue surrounding a plain gold circular center, which has been repainted. An underlying inscription is detectable via X-ray, but unfortunately only one word can be read: as?abi (lords or possessors). Repainting aside, the shamsa is executed with delicate brushwork and careful attention to detail. Balanced and symmetrical in composition and palette, it compares well with other illumination produced in Central Asia and Iran during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

Classification

Manuscripts

Medium

Black ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on beige paper

Culture

Persian

Period

Safavid period

Century

16th century

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Islamic & Later Indian Art

Dimensions

26.5 x 14.6 cm (10 7/16 x 5 3/4 in.)

Provenance

Stanford and Norma Jean Calderwood, Belmont, MA (by 1998-2002), gift; to Harvard Art Museums, 2002.

Related Artworks

Rustam Mourns Sohrab and Carries His Coffin (painting, verso; text, recto), folio from a manuscript of the Shahnama by Firdawsi

Rustam Mourns Sohrab and Carries His Coffin (painting, verso; text, recto), folio from a manuscript of the Shahnama by Firdawsi

Unknown Artist, 1575-1590

Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

16th centuryPersian

Bahram Gur in the Sandalwood Pavilion, from the Haft paykar

Bahram Gur in the Sandalwood Pavilion, from the Haft paykar

Unknown Artist, 1584

Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

16th centuryPersian

Afrasiyab and Siyavush Embrace (painting, recto; text, verso), illustrated folio from a manuscript of the Shahnama by Firdawsi

Afrasiyab and Siyavush Embrace (painting, recto; text, verso), illustrated folio from a manuscript of the Shahnama by Firdawsi

Unknown Artist, 1520-1540

Black ink, opaque watercolor, gold, and silver on off-white paper, with underdrawing in black ink

16th centuryPersian

Ghazals of Jami, folio 32 from a Manuscript of Ghazals by Amir Khusraw and Jami

Ghazals of Jami, folio 32 from a Manuscript of Ghazals by Amir Khusraw and Jami

Unknown Artist, c. 1533

Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

16th centuryPersian

Folio 330 from a Qur'an: Last Two Suras and Colophon (recto), Invocation (verso)

Folio 330 from a Qur'an: Last Two Suras and Colophon (recto), Invocation (verso)

Unknown Artist, c. 1533

Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

16th and 19th centuryPersian

Destruction of Temples by Iskandar (recto and verso), folio from a manuscript of the Iskandar Nama by Nizami, right-hand side of a bifolio

Destruction of Temples by Iskandar (recto and verso), folio from a manuscript of the Iskandar Nama by Nizami, right-hand side of a bifolio

Unknown Artist, 16th-17th century

Ink and gold on paper

16th-17th centuryPersian

Manuscript of Humay va Humayun by Khwaju Kirmani

Manuscript of Humay va Humayun by Khwaju Kirmani

Unknown Artist, c. 1530

Painting with text; ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

16th centuryPersian

Zulaykha Looks at Yusuf’s Prison with A Sorrowful Heart (painting recto; text verso of folio 100); illustrated folio from a manuscript of Yusuf and Zulaykha by Nizami

Zulaykha Looks at Yusuf’s Prison with A Sorrowful Heart (painting recto; text verso of folio 100); illustrated folio from a manuscript of Yusuf and Zulaykha by Nizami

Unknown Artist, 16th century

Ink, colors, and gold on paper

16th centuryPersian

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

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

Unknown Artist, 16th century

Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

16th centuryPersian

Gudarz Pays Homage to Kay Khusraw and Shows Him the Enemy Corpses (painting, verso; text, recto), folio from a manuscript of the Shahnama by Firdawsi

Gudarz Pays Homage to Kay Khusraw and Shows Him the Enemy Corpses (painting, verso; text, recto), folio from a manuscript of the Shahnama by Firdawsi

Unknown Artist, 1575-1590

Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

16th centuryPersian

Quatrains and Colophon (recto), folio 221 from a Divan of Hafiz

Quatrains and Colophon (recto), folio 221 from a Divan of Hafiz

Unknown Artist, c. 1540-1550

Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

16th centuryPersian

Text folio (text recto; text verso of folio 51) from a manuscript of Yusuf and Zulaykha by Nizami

Text folio (text recto; text verso of folio 51) from a manuscript of Yusuf and Zulaykha by Nizami

Unknown Artist, 16th century

Ink, colors, and gold on paper

16th centuryPersian